CITY MILK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2728, 24 March 1916, Page 6

CITY MILK

SUPPLY 'PARTICULARLY BAD' INACTIVITY ALLEGED. .Once again the subject of- the City milk supply was before the City Council last evening. Oil the recommendation of the Health Committee, the council decided: "That the Wellington Division of the British Medical Association be advised, in reply to their communication on the question of the City milk, supply, that the council is doing all within its power to grapplo with the question, and now that an additional inspector is to be appointed, a system, of. inspections will be shortly-undertaken."

The committee reported that they had been waited on by- the secretary of the Wellington Dairy Farmers' Co-operative Association, Ltd., .who, stated, that his association views.With alarm the appointment of an-inspector or inspectors of milk and dairies, "for the reason that the appointment would possibly, delay ■the orection of - the milk clearing station. The association asked for an assurance that either at once or. in the near futuro some steps will be taken to have a milk clearing station erected. v Tho committee also reported that it had agreed to confer with the D'aiiy Farmers' Association, and jointly urge upon the Government the necessity' for obtaining the site for* the erection of a clearing house at once.

Countillor L. M'Koiizie said it was nearly time the public know that tho council only had. control in the matter of the milk once it got into the city. Other departments wero concerned in the care of the milk, but the City Council was the only one to over make anv move to improve matters. Councillor R. A. Wright said tho milk this season had been'particularly bad. It was. useless to endeavour to move the Government. The Government would say that if. they, took action, in Wellington they'would have to take action everywhere else, and that they would not lie prepared to do. The only thing was for the council to face the position boldly for itself.

It was said that there was a danger of there being a worse shortage of milk than at present obtained, because t' e farmers said that they did not oie whether they sent their'milk to HVllinsrton or could send it to the factories.

Councillor Bennett said the Health Cc mmittee hail been moving for same time, but onY' lateb had got the power to even appoint an irispoctir. . Councillor M. Liickie snid that , was ttrcugh the "Mir.ister of Public Health who had misread the Act".

Councillor J.'Hutehesnn said that hV did not blame the milk vendors so much as he the Government-, but he did think Councillor Wright was wrong in saying that the Government ">nld not be iw'uced to do anything > They should insist- on the Government acting. I

J.- Godbpr said that Mr. Hiley,- tnn. General Manager of tho Railway Department, had given the Health Committee, little or no eneour-' agement or satisfaction. Tlie 'committee's " roports were adoptotl.

In a draft of the milk regulations which it is proposed^to gazette for Wellington City, peiialtios are provided for adulteration of milk, and milk, cream or butter will bo deemed to'be adulterated—

( a ) If it contains or is mixed or diluted with any substance whioh minimises in any manner its nutritive or other beneficial properties as compared with such article in a pure and normal state, and in an undetoriorated' and sound condition, or which in any other niannor operates or may operate to tlie prejudice or disadvantage of the purchaser or consumer.

(b) If any substance or ingredient hns been extracted or omitted thewsfrom, and by such extraction or omission the nutritive or other boncIrcial properties of the' article as sold are less than those of the article in its pure and normal state or the purchaser or consumer is or may bo in any other manner pojudicod. _(c) If it contains or is mixed or -dilutedany substance of lower commercial value than such article in a pure and normal state,, and in an undeteriorated and sound condition.

(d) If it does not comply with tho standard therefor prescribed by any regulations made under the authority 1908 " Sale ° f 3 ' r ° otlS a " d DrUBS Ac ''