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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9050, 8 February 1908, Page 4

Complaints respecting the character of the Masterton milk supply continue to be rife, and there is no doubt the matter requires the attention of the municjjpal autiiorities or the Health Department —or both. Dr. Mason, the head of the Health Department, has been doing much to improve the condition of the milk supply, from a sanitary standpoint, in the cities, but the provinical districts are overlooked in not being "overlooked." Some three months ago, Dr Hosking formulated a strong indictment against the Masterton milk supply, and urged that something should be done to' improve the conditions under which milk was vended, but neither local nor general authorities have interested themselves in the matter. There must be . something radically wrong when milk becomes offensive before it even turns sour, and when there is a sedi- ■ ment at the bottom of a receptacle when the -mlk it contained is poured out. If the local authorities would investigate the circumstances under which milk is suppled to consumers, and communicate the result to the ? Health Department, the latter might be able to suggest some means by > which the defects might be remedied. At all times a commodity such as - milk, which is largely consumed by adults as well as infants, should be supplied only under a guarantee of absolute purity, so far as the vendors are concerned. In hot weather, such as we have experienced, there is additional reason for such a guarantee. - it is pretty generally recognised that the Labour Party are determined to £ capture, a good many seats ?.t the next General Election, and without doubt they cannot hope to be a for3, midable power in the House unless they succeed in sjccessfully moving ~ some of the country constituencies. c { That the Labour Party have years of I- solidjwork ahead of them goes without saying, and thankless toil it will probably prove to. the initiating leaders; but no sane person can dispute f but that properly directed efforts will r. eventually result in greatly benefity ing the mass of genuine workers of every class. So far as the Masterton seat is concerned we are informed that it is the intention of the Labour Party to nominate a candidate, and ! " if- the selection made is a good one g the contest should be of a very interesting character. The candidate who - would score well must not only be a strong party man, but broad-minded .. and chivarious in disposition. There is one good, at any rate, that the Labour Party will do, and that is to show what "hollow shams" some of our alleged Liberal members are. r To-day a meeting of residents and settlers interested in securing a highDressure water scheme for Lansdowne, and also to consider a scheme - for the irrigation of Opaki, is to be held in Masterton. Both schemes appear to be very desirable, and it is to be hoped means will be found, to push them on to a successful issue. The long drought has emphasised the necessity for a high-pressure system for Lansdowne, which is a rapidly- " growing suburb. For some time past residents have had to cart water from a considerable distance. Progress must be seriously retarded under such conditions. The efforts made in 1905 to obtain a high-pressure supply fell through, but the district has grown largely in population since then, and there should now be little difficulty in achieving the desired result.