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72
MILK.
The milk supply of the Borough is derived principally from
the south, south-east and south-west counties and arrives either by
rail or road.
Only a small proportion is produced in the borough, due largely
to the absorption of land for building purposes and the decreasing
amount of available pasture land.
The Milk and Dairies (Consolidation) Act, 1915, and the Milk
and Dairies Orders gave additional powers to deal with milk
premises.
Dairies, inilkshops and cowsheds have received continuous
inspection. In the case of dairies separate premises are required
for the storage of milk and also for the washing of utensils. Alterations
have been carried out to existing dairies in conformity with
modern practice. Further, a large additional distribution depot
with the most up-to-date equipment has been erected to facilitate
the handling of milk in the best possible manner.
Mechanical refrigeration and cooling is used by increasing
numbers of dairymen in the Borough as part of their equipment.
Enquiries show that approximately 19,440 gallons of milk
are sold daily in the Borough. Of this amount 92.3% is bottled,
1.5% is retailed as loose milk, the remaining 6.2% being sold
wholesale to large consumers. These figures are interesting in
view of the fact that nine years ago the whole of the milk sold
was distributed loose. The sale of this type of milk, whether in
shops or on the rounds, is discouraged.
Of the total milk sold daily in the Borough, 14,107 gallons is
graded milk, this being an increase of 727 gallons daily, as compared
with the figures for 1931. This latter figure is extremely
gratifying and draws attention to the remarkable changes whicb
have taken place in the treatment and distribution of our milk
supplies.
Sterilised milk continues to be sold in the Borough.
A recent innovation is the introduction of milk sold in wa.xed
cartons, this method ensures that by ingenious machinery the carton
is made and filled with milk and delivered ready sealed. During
this operation it is untouched by hand. This method entirely
eliminates the costly bottle and it will be interesting to watch the
progress of this new method of distribution.
Targe numbers of samples have been obtained both for chemical
and bacteriological analysis during the year. When a sample of