MILK DELIVERY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12061, 17 July 1917, Page 2

MILK DELIVERY.

BLOCK SYSTEM ASSAILED.

A COMPREHENSIVE MOTION. The block system of milk delivery came up for consideration at the meeting of the City Council last evening, when Councillor A. M. Loasby moved to rescind the previous resolution adopting the system, a motion carried by only one vote, and to adopt the following : t That before the block system of milk delivery be adopted the following conditions must be observed: (a) That all cows supplying milk for human consumption must be subjected to the tuberculin test. (b) That all milk vendors mus« subscribe to an insurance fund pro rata to their turnover, for the purpose of indemnifying vendors from loss. (c) All licensed milk vendors must belong to the Dairymen's Association. (d) The council to have the right to fix the price of milk after a conference with representatives of the Milkmen's Association. (e) That any milk vendor convicted of any offence under the Pure Food and Drugs Act or the Christchurch Milk Supply and Markets Act shall automatically lose his license, and cease forthwith to act as a milk vendor.

Speaking to his motion, Councillor Loasby said that the council had made a mistake in adopting the system, and had done so by a bare majority in a small meotiug. Many councillors seemed to have forgotten that they were pledged to an out and out municipal milk supply. He had frequently asked Mr H. Bliss, president of the Dairymen's Association, bow many men would be released for the war. He had not received any answer, because while the svstem was going to save two and a half hours for each milkman, the same number were going to b<> employed in the same number of deliveries, namely, 120. The carts would still go round, making it easier for the milkmen, but, it would not release one man. He wanted tn know, also, what would bo the result of an abortive conference with the City Council on the price of milk. , ~ ~ "Abolish the block system, said Councillor Taylor. "I sav don't start It,' said Councillor Loasby. He added that coupons were, going'to save the dairymen tun* and monev. and if he were on their side he would be fighting for coupons, but. no dairyman was prepared to say tfliat benefits the city would roceir*. 'The fact that the milkmen pleaded tor th* block system to work certain reforms in their dairies proved that the citizens were not getting what the} thought they were getting, namely, a mire clean, healthy supply of milk. Councillor A. Williams, in seconding the motion, said that be favoured a thorough inspection on the lines suggested. The Mavor asked the council not to rescind the motion, as it would mean hanging the Parliamentary Bill up tor twelve months. If the Bill was passed it could be given a fair trial and the system could be extended to bread and milk. , ~ " And boots and shoes, ' said a councillor. The Mavov said that the citizens were bound to reap a benefit from the saving of two and a half hours on each of 120 delivery carts. With the block svstem inspection was assured-. Councillor A. S. Taylor said that there could he no objection to seeing the Bill through, for it was not mandatory, and the council could turn down the svstem if desired. Councillor H. Hunter urged that the system should be tried. a s it would give the city a measure of control which it had never been able to secure, and the time saved, even if it did not frea men for the war would liberate them for oroductive work on their farms. Councillor J. R. Hayward said that he strongly objected to a discussion on the same principle on consecutive meeting nights. Such tactics would lead to°endless loss of time. He had made exhaustive inquiries about the city milk supply, and found it. was one of the purest in the Dominion, and the tuberculin test was being adopted regularly around Christchurch. " Nonsense," said Councillor Loasby.

Councillor Hay ward replied that knew of a, herd of 200 cows in which only eight animals had reacted. In no sample sent by the Agricultural: Department for analysis had a disease germ heen found. Of 023 cattle slaughtered at the city abattoir only twelve, had been condemned for tuberculosis. The percentage of disease was minute compared with a few years ago, and the Department was stamping nut the disease. The milkmen promised a reduction in the price, and if it was not reduced the old system could be reverted to.

Councillor D. G. Sullivan said that

ih& council was wasting its time over £Ee block system, which would not be tolerated by the citizens for a week, even if Parliament passed it. The milkmen were getting something for nothing. Councillor J. W. Beanland said that! the system would ensure a better milk supply. Councillor H. G. Ell said that he thought the common-sense of Parliament would ensure the passage of the Bill, which would effect—the eminently reasonable economy of centralising deliveries, instead of having one man going from Papanui to Cashmere. Tl Why not -extend it to shops, then," said Councillor E. J. Howard. "An excellent thing," said Councillor Ell, " if we could only bring about a common-sense system, of distributing food stuffs." / Councillor W. Nicholls said that he was prepared to givo councillors a free ride to dairies supplying Christchurch that were the best in New Zealand. Tuberculous cows were disappearing, and as for dirty dairymen, they could easily be dismissed. Councillor A. Wells said that if the dairies were so perfect, the dairymen would be glad to sell direct to the municipality. Councillor E. Peek said that the system created no monopoly, for dairies could compete. Councillor Loasby said that the dairymen wanted the dairies closed. Councillor Peek replied that the dairymen merely asked that no license should be issued to persons not in the dairy industry, and that included shops, tie went on to say that a saving of two hours and a half a day would eliminate nine men working eight hours a day.

"But men don't deliver eight hours a day," said Councillor Flcsher. Councillor Peek said that Drs Blackmore, Pairman and Whetter were strongly in favour of the block system. Councillor Flcsher said that the system would lead to men working full time on delivery, with later deliveries all round. It really involved the establishment of depots and testing stations. If the council, was going to take charge of the delivery it must guarantee a standard. No matter what Councillor Ell said, he asserted that the Bill had no chance of passing Parliament.' There were too many dairymen constituents in the country. "The dairy men favour it," said Councillor Peek. " Some of them only." said Councillor Flcsher, who added that the system was a. reflection on the Health Department, which the Minister was not likely to submit to. The block system, if introduced, might be extended to boots and shoes and every other commodity in the name of efficiency, but- the Efficiency Commissioners did not rare about the standard of milk. Councillor E. J. Howard said that be regarded, the system as a. thing deliberately brought down to set back the. possibility of a municipal milk supply for years. The old markets proposal was merely the duplication of a certain number of shops to sell goods in. The block system was merely the creation of a monopoly in which a certain class were given £30,C00 worth of control.

"Explain your figures," said Councillor Hayward.

"I have no time," said Councillor Howard.

"You make a bald statement," complained Councillor Hayward. .

" And many of yours were not bald but greyheaded," said Councillor Howard. He added that the block system was a, " q*uick " system. Every block stood for a blockhead, and lie was not jjoing to vote for it. Councillor Loasby, in reply, said that carcases were not condemned at the abattoir unless they were affected in certain parts, and many persons ato beef that was diseased.

The motion to rescind th e previous resolution was rejected by ten votes to peven, and Councillor Loasby then withdrew the subsequent clauses of his motion .