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104
Breakages of bottles work out in practice at about. 2-3 per
cent, daily.
The estimates for milk, cream, and sugar are arrived at
by taking the averages contained in the eight different milk
mixtures used at the depot, viz. : milk 63 gallons, cream if
gallons, and sugar lbs., making a total cost of £2 10s.
per infant per annum—a sum which is also the actual cost
per infant for the first six months during which the Milk
Depot has been opened to the public (e.g., ,£64 15s. 6d. for 6
months for the feeding of an average of 37 infants weekly,
i.e., £1 15s. per infant for 6 months, or ios. per infant
for 12 months).
A
The income to be derived from the sale of the milk mixture
is estimated on the low basis of an average of is. 9d.
per infant per week, i.e., £4 us. per infant per annum.
For 500 infants, the yearly income would be £2,275.
The Milk Depot will never prove a profit-making concern,
but the greater the number of infants fed, the larger will be
the profit from the sale of the milk mixture, and, therefore,
the smaller will be the net loss out of the rates, and the
nearer the income will approach the expenditure. This is
excluding any consideration of the inestimable good that is
being done in the way of preventing, or minimising,
infantile mortality, and morbidity, and' the value of the
Milk Depot as a Municipal educative influence.
There is, in my opinion, only one conclusion to be drawn
from the facts, and that is that.the depot should be advertised,
and its usefulness extended throughout the Borough.
Joseph Priestley.
21 st January, 1907.