WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1918, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS

WELLINGTON'S LMXLK SUPPLY. i. another scheme. (Special Correspondent.) Wellington, July 24. Wellington has anotiier milk supply scheme which, if not quite as satisfactory to the citizens as an adequate supply of milk would 'be, at least will revive their hopes of obtaining that boon before another winter is upon them. The scheme was submitted to the City Council at its meeting last night by the Milk Committee, and proposes the institution of a receiving station —"or, if found necessary, two stations, one on each lino Wairarapa and Mnnawatu" —in the largest milk-producing centre, to supplement the snnpplies obtainable from the present dairies. When the milk from the private dairies is found insufficient for the needs of the city, further supplies are to be called in from the receiving station, or stations, and the present vendors, undi* an assurance of good conduct and with a guarantee of participation in the profits, arr. to bo emfiployed in its distribution. The recommendations of the committee were adopted by the council, the Mayor, it is understood, diss Siting, but it will be some time, to use the saving phrase of the committee, before it can be put into actual operationHOPIJ DEFERRED.

The scheme is admittedly an ambitious one, involving an experiment in municipal service eclipsing anything tlie council lias yet attempted) and, natural]}', it is being assailed this morning with ft good deal of doubting criticism. Apparently, the establishment of receiving stations would necessitate, the establishment also of a cheese and butter factory, .or, at any rate, an arrangement •with one of the existing factories for the treatment of the milk not required by the city. "The balance of the milk not required for city (purposes," the committee say, "will be made up into 'butter, cheese, and cream, which will havo its commercial value ajid can bo sold a/t the City Council's milk shop." Hers is a new enterpriso altogether, and practical men are sceptical concerning the albility of the municipality to carry it to a successful conclusion. The general feeling at the mpment, indeed, is that the scheme will do little more than provide the council with material for discussion for a month or two, and then will go the way of all its predecessors.

| PROGRESS OF THE WAR, Though the cablegrams received during the past week scarcely justify, in the eyes of the local "experts," the jubilant headlines they have been given by tiie majority of the newspapers, 'there is a feeling abroad that the Allies havo deflnitely gained the upper hand on the Western front, and that tile enemy's offensive may lose much of its force bofore the approach of winter compels the suspension of operations on a large scale. Even in high places it is hinted that there may be delay in sending the early reinforcements of next year away and the appointment of a Repatriation Board, though it may mean no mors than making a necessary preparation well ahead, is taken in some quarters as an indication of high hopes on the part of those in authority. Of course, no one is counting upon peace being close at hand, but many people arc regarding it as among the possibilities of the near future; LAND AXD PRICESA well-known commercial man, with large landed interests throughout the North Island, speaking this morning, expressed serious concern regarding the high prices being pa/id for dairying land. During the last- few weeks properties of this description have changed hands at prices ranging from £SO to £flo an acre, according to the quality of the soil and the proximity to n dairy factory. These prices are equivalent to Jin annual rental of from £3 to £5 an acre and contemplate the continuance of the present. high prices for butter-fat for all time, if not an actual increase, following upon the development of ths dried milk industry. The shances. this authority says, are all against any such assumption being realised. The supplies of dairy produce will increase more rapidly than the effective demand a year or two after the war, and buyers of land who have calculated upon famine prices being maintained will be left lamenting.