CITY MILK SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 17, 15 October 1920, Page 8

CITY MILK SUPPLY

BOARD OF CONTROL SYSTEM

APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL

PLANS FOR NEW STATION TO BE

PREPARED

Councillor C. B. Norwood's scheme for the erecti'ion of a new milk station and the carrying out of several other important undertakings in connection with the city's milk supply was further considered at last night's meeting of the City Council. The proposals, which were discussed nt some length at ft special meeting of the council on Thursday of last week, are. as follow;—(1.) That the council confirm its original proposal re a board of management, and request the committee to submit names for such board. (2.) That the council be askc-d to sanction the immediate preparation of plan's for the erection of a new station on a site to be decided upon, to bo complete if possible at the expiration of tho vendors' twin. (3.) That in the event of No. 2 recommendation being carried, the council be asked to sanction the design which will enable the whole distribution to be carried out by the department at the expira/tion of the vendors' term. (4.) That the council be recommended to adopt delivery ill sealed glass containers labelled with the date of filling. (5.) That for the purpose of obtaining the council's decision on the advisability or otherwise of including cool storage, the chailrman be asked to formally move that the council provide in addition to the milk station cool storage for public services. The Contains System Discussed. Councillor Norwood pointed out that the committee was not asking fie council to commit itself to any expenditure. It was merely asked to affirm the principles which the committee sought to lay down. The committee had the backing of the department's experts in its contention that a new station was required. The Mayor said that the council had to declare its policy with regard to the proposal to erect a now As to the suggested provision of containers, it oould not be gainsaid that this was tho only systematic method of handling milk. Councillor B. G. H. Burn confined himself mainly to a condemnation of the proposal to institute a system- of delivery by containers, either of glass or paper Councillor T. Forsyth supported the proposal to erect a new station, _ describing tho present building as, entirely unsuitable. It was badly situated and too cramped. He strongly opposed any interference with tlio i>rescnt system of distribution. The introduction of containers would increase th© cost to consumers considerably. The advocacy of glass containers was all "moonshine, whilo cardboard containers .would mean an extra 3d. per pint in the cost of milk. Tf the council were going to increase the canital cost of the scheme by 450,000 to ,£oo,ooo—and it would be cheap if they got off with this amount—it would throw a heavy burden on the people.' , Aftor further discussion a resolution was carried by 11 votes to 8 adopting recommendations 2, 3, and 4. Cold Sloragj Proposals. Recommendation No. 5, relating to cool stowage, was then briefly discussed. In moving its adoption, Councillor Norwood said that cold storage would bo an absolutely separate department, _ The resolution was carried on the voices. Change in Administration.

In moving recommendation No. 1, Councilor Norwood said tlmfc if it were adopted tliei council would have the choice of the whole of Wellington in selecting the management of its milk department. The Mayor said it would be a retrograde step oil thq part of the council to delegate its powers to a board. Efficient management could be assured for thla milk department no matter what its ramifications were, tho same as had been done in the case of th|) tramways and other departments of civic activity. The city would never have reached its present satisfactory position in connection with its tramways and electric light if the beard system of control bad btaen retained, Councillor Forsyth also opposed the 6fctling up of a board. If the Milk Committee was tired of its job—and it had done excellent work in the past—it should delegate it 9 work to tho manager. Councillor R. A. Wright supported the proposal, lie questioned whether it was possible for City Councillors to devote tliat amount of time to the milk department that wag absolutely necessary in order to ensure its successful administration. Councillor J. M. Dale supported the setting up of a board. Councillor C. H. Chapman opposed the clause, as did also Councillor L. MlKenisie. The latter said that the manager should be looked to to relieve the committee of many of the onerous details of administration with which it was at present saddled. , ■ Councillors Fraser aijd Hutchison spoke in opposition to the proposal, while Councillors Luckie and Bennett accorded it their support. Councillor Norwood, in reply, combated tho suggestion that tho committee was tired' of its job, and wanted to "get out." Its sol® desire in advocating a board was to secure absoluto efficiency in management. t The recommendation was carried by 9 votes to 8. The report as a whole was then adopted.