THE MILK SUPPLY SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 67, 13 December 1918, Page 8

THE MILK SUPPLY SCHEME

POSITION OF THE SUBURBS. A conference of representatives of suburban local bodies was held at the Town Hall, Wellington, on Wednesday evening, for the purpose of tho question of the milk supply. 'J'hoae present were: Petone, the Mayor (Jlv. J. -W. M'Ewan) and Councillor D. M'Kenzie; Lower Hu.lt, Councillors Walton and West; Knrori. the Mayor (Mr. B. G. H. Burn) and Councillor J. Mackenzie; Miramar, the Mayor (Mr. V. Townsend) and Councillor 'J'. O. Ko:>; Eastbourne, tho Mayor (Mr. J'. Levi). ' The chairman (Mr. M'Ewan) said' tho Bill prepared for Parliament during the recent session had been submitted and withdrawn. Just exactly the consequences that, would follow he did not know, bu(, speaking for his own borough, Petone. what they were concerned about was whether they would get a regular supply of milk as in the past. Petone required 500 gallons per day. If tho city had collared the source of supply from .which the vendors drew their milk, then Petone must ask the city to mako good thai amount.. It was resolved, after discussion, to ask the Milk Committee, of the City Council, which was meeting in tho building, to explain the position, particularly as to how the outside boroughs would be affected.

Mr. C. B. Norwood, chairman of the city's committee, said I hey recognised that the outside boroughs must, have their milk supply, taking the most broad view of it. There could be no question that for the next two years there would be it very serious shortage in the winter. The loss of the Bill he did not think would affect the position, which resolved itself into one of effecting economy in the distribution. His committee's difficulty was just how; to arrange it to see that the outside boroughs affected got their due proportion. They must decide in their own boroughs some method by which they could staio their exact requirements as borough?. Tie thought, they should gel together and work out u scheme for their mutual ueueßt. Mr. W. If. Bennett said if there wag a shortage, there must be some basis upon which the boroughs bore their nro: portion of it, the same as Ihe city. The city was going far afield to get an adequate supply, but it could not be done all at once. Mr. Norwood said they were going up as far as Taranaki to get milk. They were, already letting contracts in liangitikei.

Sir. J. 0. Shorland pointed out that if the prices were made sufficiently' attractive for all the year round, the farmer could arrange for his cows to come in at regular periods and the supplv could then be regulated. Mr. Norwood said they were prepared to deal with the boroughs the,same, as if they were part of the city. They could rest assured that the city's committee was out tn help them. His committee also specially desired to know the amount of milk available for winter - supply in the boroughs from sources other than those the city obtained its supply from. The suburban representatives agreed to urge their councils to supply the information, required.* ■