H.—29a

Roundsmen The milk is delivered to the householders by vans, some of which are horse-drawn and others are driven by motor. For the most part the vans are uncovered. Nearly every one of the companies' roundsmen deliver both loose milk and bottled milk. The loose milk is served by the can-and-dipper method. The other vendors and the producer-vendors sell loose milk, and, except for quantities purchased from the companies, this is unpasteurized. The hours for delivery are restricted. The roundsmen do not start before 3 a.m., and delivery must be completed before 7.30 a.m. The reason for the early delivery is the humid atmosphere of Auckland and the necessity of the morning's milk being available for breakfast. As the roundsmen have to deliver both bottled and loose milk, and often have to deliver butter as well and have also to give receipts for money, the delivery per round compares unfavourably with the delivery in Wellington. The normal gallonage per round appears to be about 60, though in some cases it is as high as 75. When the restricted hours and the conditions of delivery are considered it is questionable whether there is much (if any) difference in the work done per hour. Depots Distribution of milk is assisted in this area by the establishment of depots conveniently situated in the various suburbs. Eight such depots in all have been established by three of the treating-houses. Each depot has a cool room for storing the milk. The milk is conveyed to the depot by vans and is distributed by roundsmen whose vehicles are parked at the depot. A foreman roundsman lives on the premises, regulates the work, and acts as a relieving roundsman. The depot is also used as a milk-shop from which milk is retailed to the public. This system expedites delivery and saves man-hours, petrol, rubber, and maintenance and replacement of carts. It is of special value in a widespread district such as Auckland, and could, with advantage, be adopted in other areas. Zoning In 1936 the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council introduced a form of regulation aimed at reducing the wastage of man-power and material involved in overlapping in distribution. In 1940 a thorough system of zoning was worked out by the Council's officers and put into operation. It is probably the best and most complete in operation in the metropolitan areas and has effected a very considerable saving in man-hours, in petrol, and in the consumption of rubber and other materials. Very little, if any, further economy can be looked for in this connection. Cost Cost of distribution in the several areas varies in a remarkable way from. 6-43 d. per gallon to 10-42 d. per gallon. Auckland figures investigated show an average of 9-6 d. Prices The latest prices prescribed by the Milk Council during the several recognized periods are shown in the Appendix to this report. Attention is particularly directed to the following facts shown by the Appendix:— For Milk.—(l) The prices to be charged to milk-shops for the period Ist March to 31st August is Is. lOd. per gallon and Is. lid. per gallon, according to whether the quantity is or is not above 10 gallons in any one day, while for the last summer period the corresponding prices were Is. 6d. and Is. 7d. (2) The prices charged to restaurants, tea-rooms, milk-bars, &c., vary according to quantity bought in any one day, and for the period Ist March, 1943, to 31st August, 1943, they are 2s. 3d., 2s. Id., 25., Is. lid., Is. 10d., and Is. 9d. per gallon for quantities ranging from not less than 1 and under 3 gallons to over 100 gallons, the division being made at 3, 10,40, 75, and 100 gallons respectively. For the last summer period the corresponding prices were Is. lid., Is. 9d., Is. Bd., Is. 7d., Is. 6d., and Is. sd. If delivered bottled, all those prices are increased by 2d. per gallon. (3) The price to be charged for milk supplied to hospitals for the current period is Is. 7fd. per gallon, while for the last summer period it was Is. 3fd. per gallon. (4) When quantities of under 1 gallon are supplied, the present winter prices for loose milk are 2d., sfd., and 7d. for f pint, If pints, and per quart respectively ; and for bottled milk 2d., 4d., 6d., and 7fd. for f pint, 1 pint, If pints, and per quart respectively, while the corresponding prices during the last summer season were for loose milk 6d. per quart for all quantities under 1 gallon, and for bottled milk 2d., 3fd., 5d., and 6fd. for f pint, 1 pint, If pints, and per quart. For Cream.—(l) The prices during the current period are —to milk-shops 14s. per gallon; to fruit-shops 6d. for 4 oz. carton and lid. for 8 oz. carton ; to persons purchasing other than for resale, 15s. or 14s. per gallon, according to whether the quantity purchased is or is not less than 5 gallons and more than 1 quart, and 7d., Is., and 2s. for J pint, f pint, and 1 pint respectively if loose or in sealed bottles, and the same for 4 oz., 8 oz., and 16 oz. respectively if in cartons or other like containers not being bottles. During the last summer season the prices were the same in all these cases. (2) To shipping companies 9s. 3d. is the price chargeable during the current season for cream containing not more than 30 parts per cent, by weight of milk-fat. For Manufacture of Ice-cream.—(l) The prescribed prices for milk and cream sold to ice-cream manufacturers were for the summer period, which in this case includes the month of April, for milk, llfd. per gallon and for cream 10s. 6d. per gallon, while for the period Ist May to 31st August they are Is. 4fd. and 12s. 3d. respectively. (2) For ice-cream mix containing less than 40 parts per cent, by weight of milk-fat the present prices are 2s. sd. and 3s. 4d. per pound of butterfat throughout the year. CHAPTER 3.—PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE SUPPLY OF MILK TO THE METROPOLITAN AREA OF WELLINGTON The Wellington Metropolitan Area comprises Wellington City, Lower Hutt City, Petone Borough, Eastbourne Borough, Johnsonvillo Town District, and some adjoining and closely-related areas. The whole area is divided into two sub-areas, one comprising the City of Wellington and its immediate environs from Seatoun up to Johnsonville, and the other the flat land and surrounding hills in the Hutt

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