MR. STRAND IN REPLY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 101, 22 January 1918, Page 6

MR. STRAND IN REPLY

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l am sorry that you wore unable to publish all I said on Saturday last in this matter, but Mr. R. Williams's statements and challenge call for a reply which I trust you willbe able to find space for. Mr. Williams asks would I caro ior him to give more information to the council and public regarding the Dairy Farmers' Association. Yes. I am quito willing, and more, that he should do so, and anv facts that he is m ressession of that would be to the hennht of the public, let him publish. But 1 will deal with 'them as they deserve should they be misstatements. Mr. Williams says that the Farmers • •Vssociation promised the City Council to contribute the sum of £200 towards the cost of the clearing house, but would not hand it over This, sir. is as incorrect as many of his statements, for the sum promised was handed over earlv this month, and a receipt given, for that amount, I. cannot sav personally what took place on I'ridav last, not having been present, hut on Tharsdar, January 17, the promises which Mr Williams denies offering were most certainly offered to the Mayor by Mr J. P. Brandon and in Mr. Williams s P TtWnic Mr. Williams is onlv trying to blind the public in talking about the farmers having control of the clearing house. It never was their wish to have that any more than it was their w.sli to control the abattoirs but the time has now arrived when the farmers lvill have fair play, whidi they never have had before, and an independent inspector shall say if our nulk is somor sweet, clean or dirty, and not the man alone who is the purchaser. In v.ie past the milk ceased to be the farmei s propertv when consigned and plae-.d in the vans at the various stations ai d it was in the vendor's hands alone to make whatever deductions be thou.S.it fit. And this put the whole of tlie blame on the producers when lie was prosecuted for selling t.nder-standa watered, or stale milk. He ret; nod our nans when he thought fit. Hiese are the things the Fanners' Association have been objecting to tor so this is why we wanted to help the council with the clearing house. I cannot see the least reason for Jie City Council accepting at any time the responsibility of ownership of tho milk. ■VII that is necessary is for the ' In give the .vendor P»ss«sion i it t* clearing station instead of at the ra way station as at present, and that will be after inspection by an indopen.le inspector. Why should there he au> reasonable ground for objection to this. Mr. Williams makes a great deal ot talk about, delays, but I chatoge to prove that a great part of the milk now- delivered in Wellington is not twenty-four hours old before the puh ic get it. He also says I show very little regard for the public interest, when I compare the clearing house with the abattoirs. That is just where the shoe pinches, and it will be the best safeguard the public, can have to know that the farmer is quite willing to accept all responsibility until the nnlk has either been passed or condemned. And why should we carry Tcspousihilitv when the mill; passes into othci hands, and why should the City Council be burdened with any more rcsponment for? The question of fresh milk for Wellington is a very important thine it being one of the most neceitMs for infant life. Royal Commissions have been appointed lor many less important things in our country Ll, although I do not sary at tho present time foi such a ltd I would like to suggest t.liat a small commission should he set up to make a report to the public of Welon the question, that it make the 0 most searching inquiries into the actions of the Wellington Dairy Farmers' Association, and that the report he published. This would give the citizens facts which they are not now possession of. I riiould like to. see some person altogether above suspicion of bemg biased to name three puhliciimUl men to go into the matter, and would suggest that Sir I'rancis Bell should be chosen to name them if Would. Mr. Miter, for the benefit of seventv thousand people and our children, dig into it, arouse the public, H light into the dark places find out \,.t i= rmllv necessary, and tho person's who are responsible, for the impure milk now being sold ill the city of Wellington .—I am,^ IS TRAND. Lower FTi'th