TOO COSTLY.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 19121, 5 June 1934, Page 3

TOO COSTLY.

AUCKLAND’S MILK. Supply And Distribution. “ENORMOUS WASTE.” REPORT TO NEW COUNCIL. (By Telegraph —Press Association). AUCKLAND, June 5. A report on Auckland’s milk supply system has been prepared for the Metropolitan Milk Council by Mr. R. E. Herron, manager of the Wellington municipal milk department. He says lie is impressed at once by the enormous waste at present taking place in tho duplication of transport and delivery services. This loss he estimates at £66,500 yearly. Further considerable losses occur through uneconomic distribution in bulk supplies through the retail credit system, through the sale of surplus milk to pasteurising firms at below market value, and through transporting milk into the city when it should.be separated at the source of production and only cream transported. Skim milk is put into the city sewers instead of being used for casein or fed to pigs. After detailing other effects of the lack of organisation, Mr. Herron recommends that the Milk Council assume the responsibility of distributing milk, and says that in the absence of any other available alternative consideration would presumably then have to be given to the adoption of a complete centralised plan under which the Council would purchase, treat and distribute the whole of the milk and cream used in the metropolitan area. Ho suggests the promotion of a Milk Producers’ Association to supply all the milk and cream required for consumption in the Council’s area, and to control the disposal of surplus milk. He advises the Milk Council to reduce substantially the number of milk shops, that retail containers should be in bottles only, and practically all milk pasteurised. He finds that the present price payable to producers, 9d a gallon, is too high for the average yearly price. In conclusion, Mr. Herron says tho Milk flouneil has to bring order out of chaos, and in his opinion tho only practical way is by a centralised plan. This would moan a complete change in the constitution of the Council and new legislation. Under proper organisation the producers would be enormously benefited and consumers would obtain a much improved milk supply at a reasonable price. The price which the Council should aim at is an average yearly price of sd. per quart for bottled and pasteurised milk.