OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 July 1939, Page 4

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

THE PRICE OF MILK (To the Editor.) Sir, —In reply to "Milkman’s Wife,” I should like to congratulate her on the reasons she has advanced for the high price of milk. I certainly agree with her that a milkman’s life is a long and arduous one —up early and cut in all weathers —and they by all means are entitled to a greater recompense for their labours than others whose vocations are more congenial. However I think it would not be difficult for the roundsmen by a little co-operation among themselves, to reduce the price to the public, and still maintain their rate of profit by reducing their bad debts and operating expenses. If the public knew the bad debts which milkmen have they would be astonished. I believe that one man has several “dud” accounts for as much as £l5. Who pays for these nonpayers'? The general public, of course. A bad debt of £l5, for example, is equal to a tax on the other consumers of Id per quart for 3,600 quarts.

The introduction of an interchangeable token scheme would: (a) reduce bad debts to nothing, <b) obviate the use of notes in the milk billy, <c) reduce the use of books on the round to a minimum, (d) eliminate customer arguments. The zone system would reduce unnecessary running, and save time and benzine. Can anyone say that it is economic for a man to deliver 3 pints daily to one customer in a street, when he has to come two miles to do it? The zone system is in use in Auckland, where I believe, that it works very well.

“Milkman’s Wife” points to the Wellington City milk scheme as an example of the poor result of the token system. I am not very familiar with its workings, but even with an expensive administration, high wages bills, and problems of delivery, it is still able to deliver pasteurised, bottled milk at the same price as Masterton, though we have herds of cows handy to the town and quite a number actually in the borough. 1 might point out that the price in Napier, from some roundsmen at least, is 5d per quart, or Is gallon in gallon lots. I do not advocate a municipal milk scheme, but surely the milkmen themselves can take simple steps to put their house in order. —I am, etc., “MILK SHAKE.” Masterton, July 7.