MILK SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 215, 5 June 1919, Page 6

MILK SHORTAGE

WELLINGTON FEELS THE PINCH.

Many a household found itself minus milk on Sunday last owing to thero being none avuilaulo for distribution among the vendors, and many a household had to resort to the tinned product or to do without milk at all in their tea. One city dairy was visited, jug in Hand, by a Dominion representative. In response to an inquiry for a pint of milk the lady behind the counter, evidently worried by the number of customers she was disappointing, said: "There's not a drop to be had. There have been hundreds hero to-day after milk and cream, but there was nono for any of them." "Could you toll me where I could got a drop to go on with?" was modestly "Try the Town Ilall," said the ]«dy; "that's where the trouble takes place." "There has been .a serious shortage of milk during the last six or seven days," said Councillor C. B. Norwood, chairman of the Milk Committee. "The present shortage represents approximately 25 per cent of Wellington's requirements. This is inflamed by tho abnormal conditions existing this season, and the position has been made more acute as the result of very cold weather 'following on a pro. longed dry spell. While information to hand shows that Wellington is not in the worst position among tho four centres, the conditions are such as to cause my committee serious anxiety. We are drawing daily a considerable amount of milk from the Wairarapa side of the rrnges, but at the present time we are threatened to have this cuit off on Sunday if tho road boards persist in their refusal to allow the council's motor lorries to go over tho bridges on the Kimutaka, which are said to be too weak to carry the loads. If this supply is out off it will be a most serious matter for Wellington, and it was for this reason that I moved at the last meeting of tho council to arrange for a conference with tie local bodies interested, with a view to seeing what could be done to improve (in roads and strengthen the -bridges. Ir. the meantime we are taking the mattor up with the Railway Department to bw. if some concessions can be given on the railways in order to cope with tho position.

"At the present time milk is being delivered to vendors in exact proportion to the size of their rounds, and tlioy aro being asked to supply their customera. pro rata, on the same principle, 60 that no one will be left entirely without milk. It is hoped that by Juno 10 the block system of delivery will be brought into force; and if the arrangements aro .completed it will be the vendors' last opportunity of settling matters. Under this scheme a better control will be maintained over the distribution. In tho meantime my committee has no reason to believe that vendors are not delivering milk pro rata to their customors. "It is hoped that for the remainder of this week there will not bo a greater shortage than 15 per cent, daily, bu.t it is by no means certain that wo will bo able to maintain this supply throughout June and the early part of July. I can only say in oonclusion that every drop of available milk raised between Wellington and Wanganui on the one side, and Wellington and Woodville on the other, has been secured for the city. The Milk Committee has done its best."