LYTTELTON MILK SUPPLY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14977, 26 May 1914, Page 8

LYTTELTON MILK SUPPLY.

REPORTED ON BY HEALTH

INSPECTOR

Some weeks ago the attention of the Lyttolton Borough Council vra.s drawn to the fact that the system of delivery of milk to the Port was open to improvement. It was- stated that the cans were often dirty, and were allowed to lie about the railway platforms. With a view to dealing with the matter, the Council decided to write to the Health Department for a. report from the Inspector, which was presented at the meeting of the Council last evening. The Inspector (Mr A. W. Nicol) stated that, lie had made an inspection at tho AVooLston, Heathcote, Lyttelton, and Christehtirch railway ' stations on May 9th and 11th. He had travelled in each instance on the G. 30 a.m. train and examined some of the empty cans on ttie stations in tho afternoon. As a result of his investigations, he stated that so far as the local supply was concerned, four milkmen received their supplies by rail, two of whom divided the contents of one can, one took a whole can, while the other had several cans. The iirst three consignees transferred the milk into their own delivery cans, returning the empties to Heathcote or Woolstmi unwashed. The fourth took several cans in his cart and emptied others, the empties being returned to Woolston. The report further stated that it was not known* whether the Heathcote cans wore removed from the station as soon as they were delivered, but the Woo/ston cans remained on both Lyttelton and Woolston stations until 4 p.m., when they were called for and conveyed to the farm. There was little or no delay in receiving the milk from the train. Regarding tho milk supply to" the shipping, the report stated that it generally arrived at Lyttelton by the 8.55 a.m. train, and Dy a later nnn. The latter consignment was received by a firm of carriers, and delivered to the vessel. If, however, the vessel was not in at the time that the milk arrived, the milk was left on the railway station until such time as the \-essel did arrive. The cans were returned unwashed, and on the date of his visit were at the Christehurch station at 5 p.m. In future it had been arranged that the milk awaiting delivery should be kept at the shipping company's own office, or at the carrier's, pending tho arrival of the vessels. Regarding the cream cans on the station platform, it was stated that on' tho date of the visit there were four on the station, two having beon there for about a fortnight. These cans were usually returned c.'nan from the dairy factories 1 o which they were sent. The fault lay at the Lyttelton end, where the ngents were responsible for the return of the cans without delay -to their owners.; The Inspector stated that he had visited the company'in question in reference to the matter, and they promised to give it their attention. Tho report concluded by mentioning that the only complaint that could be made was against the system under which the cans were returned, it was intended to deal with this matter under the regulations set down under, the Drug; and Food Act, .which provided that every person receiving or delivering milk foV retail should, as Soon as possible, cleanse or cause to be cleansed, the cans, immediately they were emptied. -, Cγ. Guthrio" stated that,, thanks to the Inspector's repprt,, the public of Lyttelton could feel satisfied that in future there would be no room for complaint. He wae glad that the matter had been, brought forward. The report was adopted.