THE MILK SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 305, 13 September 1918, Page 6

THE MILK SUPPLY

» POWERS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL REGULATIONS GAZETTED Provisions governing the salo of milk in boroughs arc contained in regulations issued yosterday under tho War Legislation Act, 191.7. Tlie regulations provide tho authority required by the Wellington City Council for thp operation i« tlio now milk scheme. Tiie Minister of Internal Affairs/ by notice in the Gazetto, may declare, that tho regulations apply to any borough. After tlio issue of this notice it will bo unlawful for any person, whether as principal, agent, or otherwise (other than 'the corporation of that borough, .if lawfully authorised, and its servants or agents)—(a) To sell milk; or (b) to deliver milk in pursuance-of a contract of sale made, whether within the borough or elsewhere; or (c) to hav? milk in his possession for sale, save under a license issued in that 'behalf by the council of the borough, and in accordance with tho terms and conditions thereof. Nothing in tho regulation shall make it an offence to sell milk for consumption on the premises of -the seller, or to have possession off milk for the purposes of such a sale. For the purpose of scoiJrbg for the inhabitants of the borough an adequate supply of milk of good quality and at- a reasonable price, the council of the borough may in its absolute discretion grant, refuse, or revoke any suoft license as aforesaid, and may 'in granting any such license grant ib on such terms and conditions as the council thinks proper. By such terms and conditions the council may limit the exercise of tho license to a specified portion of the borough ,only. When the corporation of any borough in respect' of which the regulations are in force carrios on the business of selling or delivering milk within the borough, every servant or agent of the corporation who, wilfully commits any breach of his. contract with'the corporation in respect of tho salo or delivery of milk, and every other person who is knowingly concerned in any such breach, will be guilty of an offenco against tho regulations. It and so long as theso regulations are in force- in respect of any borough, it will not be lawful for any person, other than, tho corporation of that borough, without the consent of the Minister of Agriculture, to erect, adapt, or equip any building within thirty miles of that borough as a new factory or establishment for the production of butter, cheese, condensed milk, dried milk, or other products of milk, ft

GOOD SUPPLY PRACTICALLY ASSURED

SCHEME TO OPERATE FROM NOVEMBER 1. Following upon the gazetting of new , regulations under the War Regulations affecting the milk supply and distribution in Wellington, a Dominion reporter waited on Councillor C. B. Norwood, the chairman of the Milk Committee, who is working hard to put this most important commodity on a sound basis in Wellington.' Speaking aboit the now regulations, Mr. Norwood said: "The Government have recognised the necessity of doing something to protect'the people of Wellington with regard to the milk supply. The additions to the War Regulations, now gazetted, give the City Council the fullest powers to carry out its scheme in its entirety. The position the council was in formerly was that the svhole of the milk coming into Wellington for any purpose whatsoever had to pass through the central clearing station. This necessitated a, great deal of unnecessary expense, preventing those who farm close to the city from distributing their milk to residents close to the source of the supply, as in the case of Miramar, Brooklyn, and Karon. Iu sue!) cases it had been found that there was little to complain of in regard to the quality of the milk; indeed, there were oases where .people voiced tlwir protest at the suggested possibility of being cut off from such sources of supply, which perhaps was. only natural. Still the oommittee and the council had to think forthe citizens as a whole, not a few individuals. The War Regulations give such people the assurance that they need,no,t fear any serious interference with the daily delivery of fresh milk at their doors." As to sources of supply. Councillor Norwood stated that negotiations were , * proceeding ■ satisfactorily.. . He had made it his business to visit the dairy farmers all round the city, and represent as clearly as possible what the City Council's scheme ontailed. Representations had been made to big factory companies at Otaki and Featherston. In the first-mentioned instance, Councillor Norwood said he had been treated with courtesy and consideration, and had found a really intelligent; appreciation of the City Council's intention. Should tho council establish itself at Otaki (as one of the rural out-stations mentioned in tho scheme), it was pointed out that the placo would be wedded to a gi owing city of importance' for nil time, which eliminated all risks of s'ump in tho future of tho present dairy .farmers or those who would succeed them. In the case of the-Featherston Dairy Company, tho directors were c< reulted in Wellington, and as tho r-sult 'of that meeting Councillor iSoiwood has been invited to address tho fanners at Featherston on Tuesday afternoon next, On the way hack to town ho will meet the dairy farmers of Mnr.garoa the same evening. Councillor Norwood and the Milk Committee are still treating with the local vendors, who appeared to be unable to make up their minds as to what to do. There was a ireeting on Wednesday, when Mr. A. J. Petherick acted as spokesman for the vendors. Hr said' that the vendors generally did not favour the company scliemo, but wanted the individual contract system adopted. What the vendors really wanted to know was tho ariiGunt proposed to lie allowed for distribution under t\ proposed scheme. Tho vendors submitted''that cost at 6d. per gallon. Councillor Norwood, who Iwd considered very carefully every item of cost, put it down at 3d. per gallon under his scheme, and pointed out. to , the vendor. l ! that by piling up tho cost of distribution, as they bad done, they were reducing their prospects of compensation, as their cost of distribution plus what is paid for tho milk could leave them very little profit indeed. After a long discussion, thoso vendors left tho room favouring the company scheme. Another point touched upon yesterday was tho proposal, of'the Wellington Hospital and Charitable Aid Board to acquire a dairy farm. "They put up. with the vendor all these years," said Councillor Norwood, "and just as tlio .city formulates a big milk supply scheme, which may benefit the hospital' and all other kindred institution?, the board talks of buying a farm. Seeing that the fr'arm would have to be bought largely with the money levied on the citizens of Wellington, they might hold their hands for a time. ' If all goes well, as I think it will, we will be able to give the Wellington Hospital s.ll the milk it wants and any percentage in butter-fat within reason, ■ for we will have under our control all tho milk of clusc-iti forms—milk that could be delivered at tho hospital an hour after it leaves the cow. And please make it plain that we do not wisli to make

any money out of milk supplied to the hospital. It will be provided at baro cost, with just a margin to cover the cost of delivery." In tlio meniitimo plans for improving and extending the plant at the council's premises in Dixon Street are being prepared, and the alterations will Ijo niiide with a. view olf inaugurating tho new system on November 1.