The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1918. THE MILK PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 262, 24 July 1918, Page 4

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1918. THE MILK PROBLEM

The Wellington City Council has now decided to make another attempt to solve the milk problem. The present state of affairs is so unsatisfactory that the public is in •the mood to support a far-reaching departure from customary methods if. it has a reasonable prospect of ensuring a regular and adequate supply of pure milk. The health of the city largely depends upon good milk, and plenty of it. If this necessity cannot bo secured in the ordinary course of trade, then the community, through its governing body, must devise some other way oi supplying its needs. For some considerable time past fcho City Council has been giving its attention to the milk problem, and eventually made an attempt to solve it by tho establishment of a clearing house system. This attempt was a hopeless failure, and was abandoned. Since then the position has become worse than ever, and the patience of the public is almost exhausted. During the present winter the shortage has become so serious that it. is hardly an exaggeration to say that the city is experiencing a milk famine. The report of the special committee set up by the council to deal with the question has been eagerly awaited, and the fact that the council has adopted it by a largo majority may be taken as an indication that the new scheme will be' put into operation as soon as possible. The committee appear to have gone into the matter thoroughly. They have taken a large amount of evidence with reference to the- financial, practical, and scientific aspects of the problem. As a result of their dciberations they have reached tho conclusion that a municipal milk supply should bo established. That such an enterprise must be regarded as a daring experiment becomes evident in view of the fact that when the scheme is in working order Wellington will probably have- the distinction of possessing the first municipal milk supply in the world. It is not intended to establish complete and direct municipal control at one stroke; but the municipality will from the outset become responsible for the whole of tho city's milk supply. The council has purchased a station in the city where all tho milk comincr from districts in tho vicinity of Wellington will bo properly, treated. But.this "near" supply is not always sufiiciont, and to make up for any possiblo shortage it is proposed to purchase one or two receiving stations or factories at a distance irom which any additional milk that may bo required can always bo obtained. These factories will have their regular suppliers, nnd whatever milk is not needed for the city consumers will bo used for the manufacture of butter, cheese, etc The committee arc satisfied that in this way an ample supply of pure milk will be available at all times throughout the year; that the price- paid by the public will not be increased; that the scheme can lie worked without any loss to the municipality; and that tho existing vendors will not be harshly treated. It is-not to bo expected that all these conclusions will meet with general acceptation; but if thoy can para successfully through the ordeal of business and scientific expert criticism tho public, weary of the prosent distress, will be inclined to think that the now system ought to be given a fair trial. . Even thoso

who have serious doubts •• bout the wisdom of further experiments in municipal trading must admit that, as regards the milk supply, the logic of events has made some form of municipal control inevitable. The council acted wisely in seeking the advice and co-operation of the vendors, who are to be given security of tenure for two years. They will act as tho agents of the council in distributing tho milk. The committee arc satisfied that tho great saving which can be made in the cost of management and distribution, taken in conjunction with the profits from the municipal receiving factories, will enable provision to be made for fair compensation to the existing without necessitating an increase in price to consumers. Tho committee aro also of opinion that the new departure will prove to ha a sound business proposition from the council's point of view. There can bo no doubt that by doing away with overlapping in distribution much labour could be saved without loss of efficiency. It is stated that the recent amalgamation of London vendors resulted in G75 employees being scfc free. No fewer than 550 carts wore no longer wanted, over 500 rounds were dropped, 60 shops were- closed, and tho public were just as well served as under the old system. The success of the council's new venture will depend largely upon good business management. It must be worked as far as possible as a commercial undertaking. The public arc prepared to pay a fair and reasonable price for puro fresh milk. It is not the price that they have been complaining about, but the failure of the supply. They have not bson crying out for municipal control. Most of us have many misgivings regarding the consequences of State or municipal interference with the natural course of trade and commerce. But good milk is one of the necessaries of life, and if our requirements cannot be adequately and conveniently provided by private enterprise, then some form of municipal trading or control must be tried. If the public are compelled to choose between periodical milk famines or a municipal supply, they will certainly declare "ill favour of the latter, but -they will not do so without some misgivings. '