MUNICIPAL MILK SUPPLY.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17119, 14 April 1921, Page 8

MUNICIPAL MILK SUPPLY.

TO TUB EDITOR OF "THE PBEBS." Sir,— Reading your report of the meeting held in' square on Saturday by Labour candidates, I was astounded at the gross misstatements made by some of the candidates. \vuh your permission I would like to refer, briefly to the statements by Cr.' Cooke regarding the milk supply only. I daresay the whole of iliis remarks, as applying to municipal affairs, were on a par with the statement h'fe made in regard to the city milk supply. First of all, let me say that I am by no means satisfied with the conditions obtaining in the milk supply to Christchurdi, but this is away from the mark. When Cr. Cooke refers to the Wellington Council as having made a success of the; milk venture, and advocates a municipal scheme for Christehurdh, frankly I say he does not know what he is talking about. Looking for a report of the Wellington Council's undertaking, from the first balance-sheet I pick up I find they made a loss in their so-called successful milk business, as per statement by Cr. Cooke, of £4145 2s 6d'_ in a month. Surely Cr. Cooke ia not in 'his right senses when he advocates schemes like this. Enough said about Wellington. Now, Sir, has Cr. Cooke or any other Labour candidate ever considered the cost of a municipal milk supply? I think not. A few figures at this stage will give tihem something to think about. If Cr. Cooke or any other Labour candidate can set up a municipal supply ot fresh milk to the city each morning at a lower cost. sav. than: Land £1,100,000, cattle "£IOO,OOO, carts utensils, etc., £20,000, buildings £30,030, total £1,250,000, vto say nothing- of wages, losses, and other heavy expenditure, they will be clever indeed. This million and a quarter expenditufe on n municipal milk supply, as advocated -by Labour, could bo utilised to far greater advantage by providing £ooo,ooo for drainage, £150,000 improved roads, £250,00!) for water supply, £103,000 for wiping out overdraft, £259.000' educating the advocates of a municipal milk supply scheme. —Yours, etc., H. 13MSa, JUiN.