CITY'S MILK SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 78, 26 December 1917, Page 6

CITY'S MILK SUPPLY

ATTITUDE OF' THE HUTT FARMERS MAYOR ASKS. THE STATE TO INTERVENE Questioned as to the deductions to be made from the tlie Hutt dairy fanners at the meeting they held on Friday evening last, when it was decided to recommend fthe Wellington Dairy Farmers' Association to erect a butter and cheese factory in the district, the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) said that he was very much surprised at tho attitude of the fanners of the Lower Hutt. Tho remarks that-had .been made about the City. Council were 'not warranted, as the council's only end was to procure an adequate supply of pure milk for the city. As you know,'. , said Mr. Luke, "the farmers have been in communication with the Wellington City Council for some time past, and had stated that unless a clearing-houee were provided they would side-track their milk to tbe factories, and not send it to the" city at all. That wae in order to define their responsibility with.regard to unwholesome milk, on which account a great many prosecutions were taking plaoa. They were desirous of eliminating the blame that was not rightly being placed upoa them. Another of their grievances was the difficulty they had in getting back their cans and the unwholosome condition in which they were invariably returned. It was Dβ- ! cause of the bad state of the milk (as disclosed by analysis) that the City Council was forced.to aot in.order to protect the community. 1 don't know 1 of any other place that has had suon trouble and has had to provide a clearing-house to ensure immunity from blame for the farmers," said the Mayor. "For a long time past there has been a disturbing element in oon"nection with,the milk .business", which , "has forced the counoil to take a hand in the proper maintenance of an eesenHal food supply. . ~ "The position did not improve with agitation, end strong measures had to be taken,'with the result that the clearing-house will .shortly be an accomplished fact. ■ No one regrets it more than my colleagues and myself that the council was not able to erect an tip-to-date place right away, but war conditions prevented them from going as far as they would have liked to have gone. -The temporary olearing station will be Teady in about 14 •days. "•.■■■ ~

The Mayor's Protest. '

"What 1 object to'ie the tone adopted by the speakers at Friday's meeting, aßsumiug they werecorreotlv reported. On patriotic (and national grounds it" seems strange that they should declare that they would eoonet send to the factory than to the oity. It is appalling to think that apparently geiisible and practical men should take that attitude at. a time like tho present. The City Council had nothing to do with the fixing, of the , price. That was done by the Board of Trade. If they were dissatisfied with the position, their duty was. to lay the whole matter bojpre that board. The'community and the council do-not-wish to see the fanners providing milk at otherwise than an. adequate and fair profit. "We are not going to be intimidated by the remarks made at Friday's mooting, and if such k the manner the farmers intended (to adopt •eteps will be takon to circumvent them. Milk is an essential food to a community, and must bo supplied. I have already seen the Government, and have urged that under war regulations an area of r oertain number of miles round the oity should be declared a special area for the supply of milk for the needs of tho oitana.

Government Asked to Take Action,

"I have asked the Government to adopt tho attitude as a war measure,, as the supply of milk is not on y n>. . quired for adult life, but is absolutely essential to infant life, now more precious than ever. Aβ. a war regulation the Government cannot refuse to crant tho requeet made. . The farmers could send their milk to lie cheese faotory,- but before -it was touched they would be asked to allocate firstly sufficient milk to meet the needs ot the city " Mr. 'Luke pointed out that if the conditions were such that it paid the Featherston dairy farmers .to Bend their milk "over the hill" they ouHt to be good enough for the Rutt fanners who were located fo much nearer the city. The Mayor also mentioned the possibility of the ■council having to run its own dairy herds some day. They did not wish to do so, but, said he, "it may yet come to that." '