Evening star., 1943-08-20
Dairy Officials
Defend Daytime
Milk Deliveries
Deny That SpoiIoee
Results From
New Setup

Daytime delivery OF milk to pri-
vate homes every other day has been
successful from every viewpoint,
officials of the major dairies re-
ported today, denying charges that
spoilage had resulted in the change
from predawn deliveries.
The shift from night to day de-
livery was made to comply with an ,
Once of Defense Transportation
order to reduce truck mileage by rs
per cent.
The new system is popular with
milk truck drivers, who sought
change FIVE years before the gasoline
crisis brought 1t about. Dairy
spokesmen unanimously said it,
would be next to impossible to hire
milkmen If the present setup was
changed.
Illness Blamed on Situation.
The matter Of milk spoilage came
to head recently after District
health authorities were told throat
and gastro-intestinal ailments were
increasing among infants because of
souring milk. The trouble was at
tributed to the fact milk was left
at homes during the day when
nobody was there to put 1t in the ice
box.
The Health Department ordered
an investigation but at a meeting
OF department officials and dairy-
men several days ago 1t was brought
out that there has been no abnormal
increase in infant illness that could
oe traced to milk. Most baby
formulae. 1t was noted, call for
canned milk.
Union Doubts Complaints.
David A. Walker, secretary
treasurer of the Milk Wagon Drivers.
Local Union, No. 246, said his organ
ization thought complaints in the
matter didn't have leg to stand
on, but he said his group would
make no move until DR.. George G.
Ruhland. District health officer. had
completed his investigation. Mr..
Walker said drivers were enthusi-
astic about daytime work and he
doubted If many would be willing
TO return to night shifts.
Dairy spokesmen said thev had
received few complaints from Gus
toners about spoiled milk. Some
establishments reported a loss of
nome delivery business in cases
where all members of a family were
employed, leaving nobody at homo
TO put the milk in the refrigerator.
These homes. 1t was said, obtained
their milk at neighborhood grocery
stores.
AS for infant illness, one dairy
omcial pointed out that in homes
where there are infants there is
always somebody to bring in the
milk as soon as 1t Is delivered. Milk
cargoes are iced more heavily than
was customary before the war,
thereby guaranteeing delivery of
fresh milk.
New Setup Praised.
Otto Phillips, manager OF the
! Wakefield Dairy, said he believed
1t only right that milkmen should
have better working hours than they
formerly had. He pointed out that
predawn deliveries made 1t neces-
sary for 'he men to leave their
homes as early as 1880 pm. to
begin work by l am. Usually
through serving between and 7
am, he said they then had to go
back over their routes to collect
bills. Under present conditions coll
lections are made when milk is left
at the home
A. B. Fletcher of the Embassy
Dairy said the public has accepted
the change graciously and that day.
time deliveries had resulted in in
creased efficiency among employees.
Our accident reports have been
cut to minimum" he said. Under
the old system you couldn't expect a
man to give his best when forced
to work practically all night and
all day, anil we had many accidents.
But not any more The present plan
is a. far more humanitarian way to
deliver milk"