H.—29a

The following is a table of distances travelled by vendors in Christchurch to collect milk and to deliver milk based on the figures available and put in by the vendors themselves : — Vendors, Christchurch A travels 26 miles per day to collect and vend 50 gallons of milk. B „ 14 „ 48 C „ 32 „ 20 D „ 14 „ 52 E „ 7 „ 25 F „ 24J „ 361 G „ 11| » 22 7 128| 2531 Only seven vendors sent in returns of the total mileage travelled per day to collect and deliver milk, but it is considered that they are fairly representative. Seven vendors travel 128| miles per day to deliver 253f gallons of milk. This is less than 2 gallons to the mile. The average daily delivery of these seven vendors is 361 gallons per day. The average daily delivery by roundsmen in Wellington is 120 gallons per day. The average mileage in Wellington is five miles per round on actual delivery. The distance travelled to reach the round before commencing delivery varies from nothing to six miles. The following is a table of distances travelled by vendors in Christchurch to collect milk without taking into account the distance travelled from their dairies to the round, on the round, and back to their dairies:— Vendors, Christchurch A travels 25 miles per day to collect 171 A gallons of milk. B „ 20 „ 50 C „ 22 „ 127 D „ 10 „ 35 F „ 20 „ 80 G „ 8 „ 92 H „ 12 „ 48 I „ 5 „ 27 J „ 7 „ 52 K „ 191 » 20 L ~ 15 „ 50 M „ 2 „ 13 N „ 4 „ 48 O „ 8 „ 33 P „ 6 „ 45 Q „ 20 „ 72 R „ 15 „ 60 S „ 20 „ 50 T „ 14 „ 39 U „ 17 „ 19 V „ 8 „ 129 W „ 41 „ 23 X „ 19 „ 361 Y „ 2 „ 47 Z „ 6 „ 25 A 1 „ 14 „ 23 B1 „ 14 „ 60 CI „ 8 „ 52 D 1 „ 6 „ 40 El „ 6 „ 22 F1 „ 28 „ 40 G1 ~ 6 ~ 15 ~ HI „ 10 „ 22 33 401 1,666 Thirty-three vendors travel 401 miles per day to collect 1,666 gallons of milk. Thirty-three vehicles are used to collect less than two lorry loads. Returns were received from 56 vendors and producer-vendors; they delivered a total of 2,442 gallons per day. Average delivery per day per business, less than 44 gallons. Some employ labour, so the average delivery per labour unit would be less. The Zoning Committee in Christchurch have been negotiating with the vendors and producervendors for the last three years with a view to making savings on delivery on account of the shortage of rubber and petrol. In July, 1942, a compulsory zoning scheme was put into operation despite vehement protests from the vendors and producer-vendors. Zoning resulted in a saving of 9,437 gallons of petrol per month, but the above tables show that much greater saving is possible and necessary. Such conditions should not be allowed to continue even in peace-time. The vendors and producer-vendors appeared to be reluctant to supply information. They were asked to make returns, but only 56 out of 147 now operating complied with the request. The figures quoted in the above tables are from the returns put in by them in July, 1943, when there were 80 producervendors, 67 vendors, and 4 companies operating. The 56 vendors and producer-vendors who sent in returns distribute 2,442 gallons per day wholesale and retail; this is less than 44 gallons per business. Some of them employ labour, so that the delivery per labour unit would be still lower.

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