H.—29A

Some Comparisons between Wellington and other Centres Average Quota Price to Producers — d. Wellington City Council .. .. .. .. 13-863 Christchurch companies .. . . .. 11-16 (some private vendors pay 2d.) Dunedin companies .. .. .. 10-3 (some private vendors pay 12-25 d.) Auckland companies .. .. .. 12 ■25 Raw-milk vendors .. .. .. •• 14-375 It will be noted that the Auckland raw-milk vendors pay more than the Wellington City Council Milk Department. There are very few of them and they are compelled by regulation to pay to the producer the costs of pasteurizing. The Milk Council has doubts whether this regulation is carried out. Cost of Milk at Depot, including Inward Transport Wellington City Council .. .. .. .. ..15-72 Christchurch companies .. .. .. .. ..11-84 Dunedin companies .. .. .. .. •• ..11-55 Auckland — Company A .. .. .. .. •• ..12-93 Company B .. .. .. .. •. .. 31 • 1 Spread between Price to Consumer and Price paid at Depot Wellington City Council .. .. .. .. ..12-08 Christchurch companies .. .. .. •• ..12-16 Dunedin companies .. .. .. .. ■■ ..13-45 Auckland — Company A .. .. .. .. •• ..15-07 Company B .. .. .. ..14-9 It will be noted that the spread is lower in Wellington than in the other three centres. The producers in Christchurch received an increase of l-16d. per gallon last year, and that increase has not operated during the whole of the time covered by the return. The company in Christchurch complains that they are making a loss of 0-75 d. per gallon. Before the increase the spread in Christchurch was 13-32 d. per gallon. Spread between Price paid to Consumers and Price paid to Producers for Raw Milk Per Gallon. d. Christchurch : Raw, loose, and bottled .. .. .. 12 Dunedin: Raw loose .. .. ■ • • • 12 •25 Hutt Valley: Raw loose .. .. .. .. ..12-25 Auckland: Raw loose .. .. .. ■■ •• 11-675 It will be noted that the raw-milk vendors received practically the same amount for delivering raw loose milk as pasteurizing firms receive for treating, bottling, and delivering milk. Average Daily Delivery Wellington .. .. • • • • • • 120 gallons retail per labour unit. Christchurch companies .. .. .. 85 „ Christchurch vendors and producer-vendors .. .. 29 gallons per business, wholesale and retail. Dunedin companies . . .. •• 50-90 gallons with one, two, or three boys, wholesale and retail. Dunedin producer-vendors .. .. 42 gallons with boys, wholesale and retail. Dunedin vendors .. • • • • 52 „ Auckland companies .. .. .. .. 60 gallons retail per labour unit. Auckland producer-vendors .. .. 65 gallons wholesale and retail. Auckland vendors .. .. . • 50 gallons retail per labour unit. Hutt Valley producer-vendors .. .. 91 gallons per business. Hutt Valley vendors .. .. ■ ■ • • 118 > ~ The Hutt Valley producer-vendors and vendors employ ninety-one labour units —some of whom are boys for vending 3,371 gallons per day. This is 36 gallons per labour unit. Dunedin companies, vendors, and producer-vendors employ boys extensively for delivery. The above amounts are delivery per round. The delivery per labour unit would be less. Christchurch vendors and producer-vendors also employ labour, so that their delivery would average less than 29 gallons per labour unit on the only complete figures available. It will be noted that in none of the centres is the Wellington delivery per labour unit approached and in most cases delivery is less than half per labour unit in Wellington. Wages paid to Roundsmen Wellington .. Horse-drawn Delivery: week of 6 days, £6 18s. 2d. per week, plus allowance for milk, uniform, and subsidy to insurance, and bonus of £20 per year from which breakages are deducted. Motor Delivery : £7 3s. 6d. per week, plus same allowances. Christchurch .. Roundsmen : 44-hour week of 6 days, £5 10s. Dunedin .. Roundsmen: 42-hour week of 6 days, £5 155., plus commission. Boys are paid from 10s. to 30s. per week plus milk. Auckland .. Roundsmen : 40-hour week of 5 days, £5 10s. Averaqe Butterfat Test in the Four Centres for 1942 Per Cent. Wellington .. ■ • • • • • • • • • 4-481 Christchurch .. • • • • ■ ■ • • .. 4-21 Dunedin .. .. • • ■ • • ■ • • .. 3-89 Auckland . . . . • ■ ■ • • • • • . . 4• 31 The Wellington test is from samples taken from every producer's milk, and can be considered accurate. The Christchurch, Dunedin, and Auckland are average tests of samples handled by the Government Analyst. Evidence given before the Commissioners would indicate that the Auckland and Dunedin tests would be comparatively correct, but the Christchurch test would be much lower.

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