THE FIRST STEP

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3184, 7 September 1917, Page 6

THE FIRST STEP

CITY MILK CLEARING-HOUSE. Tho Public Health Committee of tho City Council reported to tho council last evening that they had authorised the City Engineer to proceed without delay with the erection of a temporary milk station, in accordance with the plan submitted by such officer. The Mayor said that .£2OO of the cost would be lx>rne by the farmers and the rest by the corporation. TIo had interviewed the Board of Trade, and pointed out that there would need to be a small tax on the niillc vendors to cover administrative charges. The tax-would bo small, and he believed the people of AVellington would pay it willingly. When the station ■ ivas completed tho city intended distributing the milk as a municipal undertaking. Ho congratulated tho council on having taken a first stpn in the matter.

. The Finance Committee reported that they had received the following resolution from the Greater Wellington TownPlanning and Municipal Electors' Association : —"That notwithstanding this association is in favour of the establishment of a milk elearing-housp, it will strenuously onnose tlie suggested expenditure of i£-15,000 without th*: sanction of the ratepayers by means of a poll." The committee recommended that tho association be renlied to, to the effect that the council intend to use the powers conferred by the statute, where the statute gives the right to raise money by special order, as this is a measure for the protection of the health of tho public. The Mayor remarked Hint the GreaterWellington Association had not the best interests of the city at heart when they asked this matter to be submitted to the people. One voter could throw the thing out, am" evidently the 'IWu-Plflnning Association reckoned that that one voter's judgment was better than the conibinpd wisdom of- the council.

Councillor ,T. Cnstle asked if the council would have nowor to force vendors to put their milk through tho clearing station.

The answer wns thnt tho council had tho power except respecting vendors in a southern part of the city. Tt was reported that out of 7H milk inspections made in the last fortnight 71 samples -were found to comply with the Act.