MILK SUPPLY.

Evening Star, Issue 21744, 12 June 1934, Page 3

MILK SUPPLY.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —A few nights ago I read-in the 1 Star 1 an article on the Auckland milk supply, and in view of the fact that the Dunedin City Council is about to take steps to in some measure control and license the suppliers of milk in this city there are one or two things 1 would like to have explained. At present the Government Health Department’s inspectors have the right to take samples and test the milk from auy delivery van or retailer. If the milk does not pass the Government test the supplier is prosecuted. Again, the Health Department inspects all cow byres, and until all surroundings are in a clean and sanitary condition milk from a producer is not allowed to he sold. It seems as if the Dunedin City Council is about to double-bank on this procedure. I would like to know if this is so, also what happens if the City Council’s inspector and the Health Department do not agree as to the milk being fit for human consumption or otherwise. Who wins? One thing wo can be sure of, it will not in any circumstances be the general public, nor will it be the supplier. Does the council intend to gradually work up to a milk supply in this city consisting wholly of pasteurised‘milk? Judging by the experience of other towns, we are certainly heading that way. There are thousands of people in Dunedin who do not care for pasteurised milk and much prefer fresh milk daily from the farm. 1 seem to remember reading a report of a council meeting where Cr M‘lndoe stated that there was a plant already here capable of treating the whole of the milk necessary to supply this city, so that it would not be necessary to spend about a quarter of a million of money (like Wellington) in establishing a control or experimenting. It would seem as if the City Council has in mind eventually to give some firm or firms a. monopoly. 1 wonder how much milk will cost a quart then. Mr Herron, of Wellington, advises the Auckland Council to close the small retailshops where milk is sold. It is surely to lie hoped our City Council will not take this advice; ' These shops are a very real convenience, and I have yet to see one where the containers and surroundings were not spotlessly clean. Milk is already up one penny a quart, and it looks as if vve are going to jiay more before the winter is over. If we do I venture to say the producer will handle very little, of the increase. Past experience has proved how overhead charges mount up when any governing body creates a department to control a commodity. Personally I consider that up till the present Dunedin has enjoyed a milk supply second to none in New Zealand, both as regards quality and price.—T am, etc., Unemployed Father of Three. June 11.