revolution urged
Page 29
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
ASTRONG appeal for the ending of daily milk deliveries has been sent to the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Fred Peart, by a former Milk Marketing Board chief who was asked by the Government to make a special study of milk distribution in England and Wales.
In his report, published on Wednesday, Mr. Jim Davies declared that the time was now almost ripe for the delivery of milk every other day.
But if the dairymen were to have their way in this—and the savings were likely to be at least 5d. a gallon—they would have to meet the customer halfway.
The system would only work if the milkman provided milk that would keep longer, and either produce a better container or help housewives to rent or buy their own refrigerators where necessary.
Mr. Davies advised the Government that it was virtually up to the milkmen and their customers to decide for themselves. Price rises were inevitable if the dairymen continued to be tied to the daily round, in face of increasing transport and labour costs.
The report suggested that the changeover to deliveries every other day should take place over two years, while an intensive publicity campaign prepared the housewife to co-operate.
The report also looked at the movement of milk from the farm gate to the processing dairy, and Mr., Davies pointed out the economies that could be achieved by reallocating supplies so as to bypass depots where practicable.
To encourage this, he suggested that the allowance paid to distributors taking milk direct front farms should be increased and that the bulk collection of milk should be extended. Another suggestion that the Marketing Board should assume full financial responsibility for the movement of milk from depots to processing dairies is already under Government review.