MUNICIPAL MILK

Waikato Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 5508, 14 January 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

MUNICIPAL MILK

A VICTORIAN SCHEME. A scheme for the municipalisation and the Government supervision of the milk supply of Melbourne has been drawn up by the chief medical ollicer of the Board of Health, for the consideration of the Government.

The matter came before the [shortlived Labour Government, and was favourably received. The scheme does not stup at the establishment of one central milk depot only, but provides for municipal depots. "The whole system of pure milk supply," Dr. Robertson's report says, "is based on the maxinith.it milk, before it leaves the body, is naturally a sterile article of food. To keep this milk sterile from the time it leaves the cow until it is consumed is the main object to be attained. Municipalization of the whole milk supply, 01, at least, of its distribution, would undoubtedly facilitate matters, but even then a special supply would have to be provided for infants. An ideal modus operandi for Melbourne and suburbs would be the establishment of a central depot for the reception of milk from specially selected farms; for its preparation, modification, bottling, and subsequently its distribution by ] means of district depots or agents. "The management, would be in the hands of a board of directors representative of the Government and the various councils or groups of councils. Stringent conditions as to the sanitation of dairy farms, tuberculin testing of cows, medical and veterinary supervision, and all other matters pertaining to the production of a pure milk supply, would he laid down by the board, and supplies would only be obtained from farms complying with the conditions required by the board. If | treatment by pasteurisation were | decided upon a plant would be. ne- | cessary for this process; also for i cleansing and sterilising all bottles, i corks, and other utensils used in the preparation and modification of milk. ' Premises would have to be speci- I ally prepared, and a stair engaged | to run the business. "A scheme based on such lines would require capital, but its ultimate success, even as a business concern, would never be in doubt. In the absence of any such scheme there is no reason why the distribution of an infantile milk supply should not be undertaken by the municipalities in conjunction with the State." It is suggested that the councils singly, or in groups, should make arrangements with existing dairyfarms or institutions by which a regular supply of pure or purilied milk would be obtained under certain sanitary requirements, to be laid down by a board of management. The article supplied would be pasteurised or purified milk in sealed sterilised bottles, and would not require more than one delivery in 24 hours. A plant for treating the milk at a central depot would probably cost from £SOO to £IOOO.

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