THE MILK PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 161, 27 March 1918, Page 8

THE MILK PROBLEM

COUNCIL COMMITTEE'S REPORT VARIOUS SCHEMES DISCUSSED CORPORATION AS SUPPLIER OR DISTRIBUTOR? Last evening tho report of the Special Commiteo set-up by the council on January 29. lo inquire into the failure of the temporary milk station and report generally was 'laid on the table of the City Council. The report stated:— Contributing causes of the failure of •tho temporary clearing house scheme:— 1. The committee are of opinion that the floor space and plant provided was inadequate, having regard to the enormous quantity of milk to be handled, and the lack of a cooling chamber was a serious drawback.

2. The want of a sufficiently carefully pre-arranged ,plan for taking over and handling the milk at the railway station and at the clearing house. 3. The estimate of labour required by the expert to carry out his original plan of treatment of t!ra milk was fifty per cbnt. under requirements, and seventy-five per cent, under-estimated, if the whole provisions of the Act were to be carried out.

4. That the steaming plant for cleansing cans having been fitted in tho same room as the milk was received in. and dispatchfroni, raised tho temperature of the room to an extent which alone would be sufficient to cause failure, "if cleaning was to be done while any milk remained in the shed.

5. Tho committee aro of opinion that the vendors were working in conjunction, and in direct opposition to the clearing house scheme, and the want of cooperation by them with the clearing house staff was one of the most serious contributing factors to the failure of the council's scheme; that the resolve on the part of the vendors to deliver the milk from the clearing house direct to the consumer, and their refusal to pasteurise any milk handled through the clearing house, was in effect an organised attempt to wreck tho scheme. The vendors' refusal to remove certain portions of the milk immediately it was ready, showed a great want of consideration on their part for the council's expert in his desire to relieve tho congestion at tho clearing station. The vendors' conduct as set out in this clvise would, in the committee's opinion, bo sufficient in itself, even if all other conditions in the clearing house were right to wreck the scheme.

An Effort to Control the Milk. 6. In tho opinion of the committee the council in initiating this scheme did so only to properly control the rail-borne milk, in order to clean and secure the safe return of the farmers' cans, and to facilitate the testing and ensure the correct delivery of the milk. Negotiations which subsequently followed brought about changes requiring tho whole of the milk coming into the city to pass through tho building, in order to put all the vendors on the same footing, and it was found that the only way to do this was by having tho premises declared a clearing house under the Act. 7. The fact that the proclamation of tho building as a clearing bouse under the Wellington City Milk Supply Act, 1910, mado it necessary for all the vendors' milk to pass through the clearing house, involving at least somo delay in delivery, and rendered it very advisable that the council should have taken the vendors more fnllv into their confident* to brio* about: a mutnnl understanding as to the working of the scheme, they being the consignees, the council was to handle only milk which was their property, nnd not the rroperty of the farmers ' It was thereto a ouestion largo'v between the vendors and the council, rather than the farmers and the council.

Attempt to Repwrfv Serious State of Affairs. The question of tho council's policy in adopting the clearing house scheme:1. Tho committee ere of opinion that the responsible memoers of the council who recommended the temporary cieanng station were actuated by a desire to remove what the committee has found on investigation to be a very grave state <:t affairs, and a serious menace to the health of the community. 2 The wan'' of co-operation nnd common interest between the farmers oil the one hand and the vendors on the other, coupled with the difficulty of obtaining labour, the loss end annoyance caused from milk going sour in transit, tlie damage to andf loss of cans, and, above al.. the high price ruling for butter-fat at the present time, all tend to throw the balance of interest in the favour of the farmers sending their milk to the factories in preference to continuing to supply tfn city. A section of the farmers liavo made it clear that they will not feel called upon to continue supplying milk to "Wellington if the council uoes not intervene to remove at least some of tlie disabilities under which they are at present working. 3. Having regard to the above, and to tho various estiina:es placed at the Mayor's disposal by the experts, the committee are not surprised that recommendations were made to tlie council which led to the erecnon of the temporary clearing house. i. The commiteo cro of opinion, however, that I he Mayor and councillors who 'were present at the deputation to the Minister of Public Health on December 6, 1917, would have been well, advised had they taken notice of the Minister who, evidently acting on the advice of his experts, made very clear his misgivings us to the legal status (f the council to carry out their scheme, and as to the suitability of the plan and buildings at their disposal for *-he purpose.

Fate of the Clearing House. 5. It is only fair to mention here that the Mayor and those most closely associated with him in recommending and carrying out the scheme naturally relied upon the expert who took up tho management vri'tfl the full sense of his responsibilities, and that he, the expert, actually failed to foresee aiut advise that the plant and buildings and staff at Lis disposal would not carry out the work for which they were intended.

Recommendation re present clearing house.—The committee have to recommend that no alteration or addition be made to the present clearing house. They are of opinio" that even if properly organised it would be costly, and v-ould not confer any real benefit upon the public.

Clearing House System.—The committee are of opinion that in no case can a clearing house be successfully operated except in conjunction with municipal milk distribution.

Future Policy. 1. The committee, are of opinion, after a careful consideration of all the evidence put before them, that there are three methods by which the council may proceed, each of which is worthy of careful consideration by the council, as follows-.— (a) That the council facilitates tho promotion of a joint t-tock company, or perhaps two companies (Copenhagen's supply is operated in this way) to take over and control the delivery of the whole milk supply of the city, wilh security of tenure, under tho control of the council so far as prices and sanitary conditions are concerned. (b) The council to take over tho wholesupply of milk to the city and to operate same under the control of a separate board, appointed by tho council, and to hold office during the pleasure of the council. (c) The council to take over the whole milk distribution problem and control same as a municipal trading department.

2. In bringing before the council the above proposals, the committee do not feel that there would be any good purpose served by reviewing the whole of tho evidence (which is voluminous, anil in which there are conflicting opinions). This, however, has been typed, and is at the disposal of the council. 3. Referring first to the joint stock company, the committee, are of opinion that it is only possible to handle a milk supply for a city like Wellington upon a largo scale. A large number of small vendors aro in this unfortunate position,

that they cannot with their limited business erect ice-making plants and provide cool storage and country collecting stations where necessary, uud make contracts sufficiently largo to warrant provision of special forms of railway trucks and other transit conveniences, and generally bring about conditions essential to the prompt handling of tho supply to a largo city.

Wellington's Geographical Position,

4. The geographical position of Wellington to the dairy farming area places it in quite a different position regarding its milk supply as against the cases of other cities in New Zealand. Milk has got to be brought considerable distances and properly organised and pre-arranged provision will require to bo made for the winter supply, otherwise there must always be a part of the year in which the citizens will not get a full and plentiful supply. 5. It is not conceivable, in the committee's opinion, that a scheme of Buch magnitude and importance can be thoronghlv looked after, however good the transport facilities may be made, if dealt with by a series <f small vendors, and we cannot find' that it is being successfully done in any of the large cities, either in or out of New Zealand. 6. Should the council favour the joint stock companies' scheme, reasonable publicity sf the fact might induce brokers to make some offer. As the farmers (themselves would be the most likely investors, a reasonably .remunerative proposal for the investors could be put beforo tho public. 7. The weakness of tho joint stock coinpanies' scheme lies in the difficulty at the present time of inducing investors to put their money into companies, having regard to the war tax and the amount of money taken off the market by the necessary War Loans. 8. Consultation with tho leading brokers would throw some light upon the possibilities.

The Corporation as Milk Supplier. The council control under scheme B :•— 9. Tho committee are of opinion that this scheme is worthy of consideration for the reason that there has grown up in this country in 'the dairying business a state of efficiency not surpassed in any part of the world, and as a result there are stationed in out-town centres men' of great commercial experience with _ a knowledge, moro or less direct and jndirect, of tho milk business. Tho com,mittee thiuk it possible to secure the services of two such men, to act with a doctor, who should bo a young man whose experience and training would fit him for the special service, of which he may eventually bo appointed controller. In the meantime his whole time would probably not be required for the pur-, pose of the scheme. This process may be costly whatever the amount, it would represent a small percentage upon the total money involved, and may make all the difference between efficiency and failure in carrying out the real objects which the council have in viow in embarking upon such a highly important undertaking. ' The committee believe that so far as members of tho board are concerned, other than the medical officer, two meii could be found who would treat the council very lightly as to remuneration for their services until the scheme was thoroughly launched and thoroughly organised. This scheme has the further attractive feature that the board would not be subject in any way to any class of 7oters for tho retention of their office, and need only have one object in view, and that is, to carry out tho wish of the council to supply pure milk to the public under the best possible conditions, and at the lowest possible cost without involving any tax upon the ratepayer, to make up losses in trading. In other words, they should regard it as a commercial proposition purely and simply. 10, Legislative authority may have to be obtained to bring either of A or B schemes into operation. The committee have every reason to believe that the Government is entirely with the council in their desire to lomedy the present grave disabilities in this all-important matter.

Corporation as Distributor. Scheme u— a. jjreuc uca* 01 wnat has ueea oaiu oi acueuio Jt< inn/ues eiiiinuy lo tius alternative. Tne special merit 111 mis scueiue ues in the met tnat it can uo piucceutu wicu witnout oitouuclion or uemy aim uoes not 111 any way depend upon conditions ueyond tuo direct tuatroi ot tne council. There is a great deal to be said for and against hiinuiug over the control to a boaiu, a ucpurtiuent winch in\oives the handling 01 sucn a large sum 01 puunc money, and although tnis is oitset by many arguments, tne council may decide that a committee ot -heir own body can do all tliat is necessary in bringing a scheme to a succcsslul issue. Tne committee has taken evidence upon every ueparcuient of tue rtippiy ana distribution umu tne <n\i to the consumer, and we do not leei that tne niiormatiou at viieir disposal alloius anyuung beyond wnat is necessary to game the council su ur as Using tuo poncy is concerned, and beiore a scneme can ub launched v suecessiuily, miuer carcnil inquiry is necessary to supplement tue evjuenee now beiore the committee, kowever, with the evidence ueiure me committee, they uuaiiiniuusiy agree that tue matter is ot such vital luiportanoo tnat no time should be lost in proceeding to do something wmcii will clean up tue uniurtuuate slate 01 things now existing, re is quite clear tnat this important lood has been serveu up to one uuuiic ior oouio years past under conditions vtnieh render it entirely unlit ior human consumption, and tnat, by the aid of pasteurisation, tue public have been in bassiui ignorance 01 the risk they have been running. The ideal conditions would undoubtedly be to reduce tne milk immediately alter milking to a low temperature, lo tntnsport it under these conditions, and to distribute it as quickly alter arrival iu the city as possible to the consumers in an unpasteurlsed condition, taking care that only thoso farmers whose nerds comply with the standard and whose conditions of milking and cleansing wero up to the standard recognised to be pure and healthy, should be allowed to supply for tins special purpose. The committee, however, regret tnat such a. form of supply and delivery is beyond the reach of the council in the earlier stages.

Could be Run Free From Loss. The euiniiiitteu have gone into tue ter broadly uud navui not omitted from their studies tne nnanciai wild oonuiiyrciiil sjaa oi tne venture, ana tnC-y have no lietsltutlou in saying tnm, in tne initial stages, Die great imlli "ot tnu mils column into tne -ny iuust no paoteuris'eo. Vn" comnnuee are also uiimiimously ot opinion Unit tne larjje prouw siiotvlitoliepo.v sioio T>j the expcii-i' reports wniun were presented to tno council, are nut to iju reiicu upon, ana tne cose of handling tlie mine supply will uo very much greater tiiau was m tno nanus or nieuiljurs ol the council when tue scheme was Ijcfuit them recently, though the committee are satisfied Unit uutiur proper organisation, lis sclienie can he run entirely live lrmn loss to tue council and Hisua a pure supp.y oi milk to tlie jonsunu>r.

Tiiere is no difference .ji opinion between the witnesses who gave tuuuiieu ueioro the committee thut tno vital question of the milk supply to Wellington is proper transport facilities. Tlie committee aro unubiu to see How, with tne divided Interests of such a large number of vendors, sufficient influence can be brouglit forward to induce Die Government to improve the conditions materially. This would involve some considerable expenditure, which could only be minimised by central control, as the milk comes from so many different stations and different trains, that the number of insulated trucks necessary would bo out of proportion to Hie amount of milk they would bo expected to carry to the city.

The Question of Trains. 'Iho milk supply in itself is not suffi. cient to warrant special trains, but tho Government may be induced, it insulated trucks were provided and loaded ready, to bring them to Wellington by the less important mail trains, but even if this was not agreed to l.y the Government, providing iho milk could be properly collected in the main centiv of supply, ami •sleuriscd and thoroughly cooled within tho shortest possible lime alter milking before transport in insulated vans, the extra time taken vould not be a serious factor in affecting the purity of the milk supply to the city. Quite apart from the general supply, which unfortunately mufct he pasteurised, I he committee believe tlia

tho scheme would bo incomplete and would not perform its lull duty to the public if it did Jiot provide for a limited supply of rich and pure wholesome nrilk for invalids and children in an uustenlised condition, To carry this out, it would be necessary to erect a cold store (chilling rooms) in some convenient centre, whoro the supply of milk is as large as possible. This would be made to act as the receiving station for all tho milk in the vicinity, which will bo properly pasteurised and sent lo Wcliing. ton ready for distribution, while milk from one or moro herds—the best in the district—should be properly treated and delivered, probably in containers, at nn advanced cost for invalids and children. In this event consideiation should bo given to the advisability or otherwise of purchasing tho milk on the butlcr-fnt content; as in this particular department, tho milk would be distributed under ideal conditions, and would form an excellent experiment to guide the council ns to the exact cost of this form of distribution, without involving considerable arid immediate expenditure. This department slioußl be well advertised, and tho committee are of opinion that it would grow to considerable dimensions.

The reason the committee have to advise this is to assist in the preservation of our infant life, and to be sure that tho milk is not sterilised (which process reduces the value of milk as an infn.nt food, impairs digestion, and causes skin troubles, which are so frequently produced in ignorance).

By-Products. It will be an essential part of any scheme that in the supplies of milk to Wellington and also supply ot cream, to be comprehensive, must include some method of dealing with by-products. A country station whicu supplies milk and cream to the city of Auckland (which tho chairman iiad an opportunity of inspecting) used a pig farm lor this purpose, to which, the sour milk went through pipes by gravitation direct from the macnines and feeding troughs, so arranged as to reduce labour to a minimum. This was understood to be a profitable department of the business. The committee have to rccommena that after reviewing all tho facts and evidence they consider the council's luture policy shouid be as outlined iu scheme "ii."

As the adoption i-t any of the foregoing recommendations of the couiuiilleo will involve considerable delay, tiio committee further recommend tnat the I'ublic Health Department bo approached with a view tu cne appointment oi another inspector, wnose uuty wouiu be to tase samjnes oi tlie 111411 c supply beiore u readies the veudoro, tne mo inspectors to worn conjointly as lar as lub comuiittc-o wwii to record their appreciation ana thanks to tne pruiessionai, commercial, ana expblt gentlemen, a»so to lue larmers ana nuiis vendors wno so lreeiy gave evidence, ior tne valued services rendered, and witnont wismug iu discriminate the committee leei that special tnanks are due to iUr. iliiiouty, who came from Auckland to Welungtuu to give the committee the beneiit 01 111s wiae knowledge on t.ne subjtct, and also lor the courtesy extended by turn to ctie chairman during the latter's visit to Auckland.

Committee Favours Scheme, The ouuu'Wuii or mu cuxuwillco wuiCu uiauo me repurt, I oUbUiuur U. ji. INorivuuu, sum mat tne cciuntaiee was asking tne council to auu±>t, aeucuiu "x>." j.ii<.j' Deiieveu that a ut-i,aunieiit ot uiis Kiiiu required at tne heaa 01 it a perbuii Wltil optClal kUOtflCllgO Hi tilt CUllU'Ol 01 perisuaoio goods. At 'lie present time tne awry inrms in tne euuuu-y weiu mostly placed iar back iroiu me roau. There was a stand near uo road 011 which tuo milk stoott ior tne collecting venicie to take it. This system meant that the milk was ior several hours exposed to the sun beiore reacmng Wellington. It was now proposed to erect a receiving station in tho largest farming area. Whilo it was new, tne milk would bo pasteurised, cooled, and held until it was time to transport it to the railway station in motor lorries. It would arrive perfectly cool and be distributed. To overcome the difficulty of one bad farmer spoiling all the milk, the committee would probably ask the couucil to lend farmers up to XM to effect any improvements considered necessary. Tho committee had taken a great deal of evidenco and had gone into the matter very, enthusiastically. At every meeting of tho committee there was a full attendance.