PURE MILK FOR CITY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 755, 30 August 1929, Page 7

PURE MILK FOR CITY

DEPARTMENT’S REPORT IMPROVEMENT IN SUPPLY (The SIX’S Parliamentary Reporter t ' PARLIAMENT BLDGS.. Thurs. j Although the milk supply 0 f Auckland has become better in recent years, the Health Department declares that there is still room for improvement. Every endeavour is being made to ensure purity of supply in the city's I milk. , After making a special study of this question, the medical officer for health at Auckland. Dr. T. J. Hughes reported to Parliament today that the farms were not under the jurisdiction of the Health Department, but the latter closely co-operated with the Xlepartment of Agriculture in endeavouring to assist in clean milk production. Nevertheless, considerable improvement had been obtained in this direction. •‘Apart from this, the question of cooling milk directly it is drawn from the cow is a very important matter,” Dr. Hughes said, “and it is still found that milk arrives in the city at a temperature in certain months of the year as high as 75 degrees Fahreu- ! heit. The difficulty of obtaining 1 water at sufficiently low temperature on the farms withdut the use of cool- ! ing plants for efficient cooling is recognised, but it is gratifying to know that special plants have been Installed on several farms, aud this ts to be encouraged. “The question of efficient cooling at ! the farm is a real difficulty in this climate, and the cost of refrigerating j plants is prohibitive for the majority ! of farmers. \ PROBLEM OF PRODUCTION ‘ Those in charge of the milk depots in the city are making endeavours to obtain clean milk for the city supply, »nd they are always notified by this department of any milk arriving at : their depot which is doubtful as to quality. About 1,200 samples were examined during the year by the department from the city. i n only three instances has it been necessary to take legal procedure against milk vendors in. the city for selling milk (leiow the fat standard during the \ year, but it has been found that approximately 3 per cent, of samples faken of milk being forwarded from the farms to milk depots in the city were deficient in fat content. "However, when such milk is bulked »t the depot the average fat content has complied with the standard required. The deficiency in the fat has been due principally to the class Of cattle preferred by farmers, which give quantity of milk, but with too narrow a margin of milk fat at special times of the year. "This matter was fully discussed with those interested about two years ago, and the position has improved, and to my mind is not difficult of solution. The standard required is not too high. "As regards the addition of water fhis is now a very rare occurrence in fhe city, states the report. "Reference is made to the fact that in the collection of milk from some farms milk, cans have been left at the corners of main roads or on platforms for collection by lorries, and are unduly exposed to the sun and dust. "This matter has been brought before the parties responsible, and improvements have been made in this respect. “Although improvements have been made in the city in many respects, I am of opinion that the main point in tackling the question of obtaining a pure milk supply is to be found at the place of production, namely, at the farms.”