3o8 ] ournal oj Agnculturt: . Victoria. [lo May, 1911, 



or large proprietary depots, from which tlie whole of the milk for each 

 .suburb, or group of suburbs, might be distributed ; the carts each 

 delivering to all the houses on a given route. This would certainly do- 

 away with much of the travelliiig that the present rounds call for ; but 

 it w'ould also close out all competition and indivitlual effort ; which very 

 probably would not be to the benefit of the public. As matters now 

 stand, they have a choice of several dairymen in every district, both in 

 regard to hour of delivery or individual fancy in quality of milk sup- 

 plied. Every dairyman also has some customers whose trade he values 

 so highly that he would go a long way out of his usual route to serve 

 them. It is in following customers such as this who have moved to- 

 another locality, that a dairyman often increases his round, as their re- 

 commendation will bring him more trade. Taking everything into con- 

 sideration, the present working system appears to be fairly satisfactory 

 for both consumers and suppliers. 



Facts, Figures, and Worthy Examples. 



The increase in trade that has been mentioned as having taken place 

 in the retail business may best be demonstrated by a few figures. There 

 are, altogether, id dairymen in Melbourne and suburbs whose premises 

 are now fitted with refrigerating plants. These are Messrs. Evans, in 

 Brighton; Cook, in Camberwell ; Morris, in Carlton; Hopton, in Col- 

 lingwood ; McKeever, in Essendon ; Atkins, and Larcher, in Fitzroy ;. 

 Flockhart, in Flemington; McFarlane, in Footscray ; Sibbitt, and Thomp- 

 son, in Hawthorn; Rout, and Simonton Bros., in Kew ; Coughlan, 

 Jenner, Merriman, and Woodmason, in Malvern ; Afiieck, Shinkfield, 

 and White,' in Prahran ; Adams, in St. Kilda ; Oakes, in Richmond ; 

 Smith, in North Melbourne; Dobelli, and Morris Bros., in South Mel- 

 linurne ; and the W'illsmere Certified Milk Co., in Melbourne City. 

 There is also Mr. Hope's dairy farm in Caulfield which is not included in 

 these, as the milk from there is retailed by other dairymen mentioned, 

 Messrs. R.out and Woodmason retail from their dairy farms, running both 

 branches of the business on the same premises. These 26 dairies represent 

 a daily distribution of 28,690 quarts of milk to 28,696 customers. Several 

 of these dairymen supply shops and other small retailers ; so the number 

 of customers to whom this milk is distributed is much larger than the 

 figures show. On the average, the distribution is less than a quart per 

 customer. 



Among the larger dairies with refrigerating plants installed, a few ex- 

 amples will suffice to show what has taken place In individual instances 

 increases have been made in sales of from 400 quarts to 800 quarts ; 

 1,500 to 4,500; 250 to 800 ; 800 to 1,500 ; 650 to i,.'^oo : 1°° to 600; 

 and 180 to 880. On the whole, in regard to the 26 dairymen w^hose 

 names are given above, the daily distribution has advanced from 16,795 

 to 28,790 quarts; while the number of customers directly supplied by 

 them has increased from 14,284 to -25,096. This large increase 

 has not been gained altogether by canvas or recommendation, as 

 occurs with those in a smaller way ; but has largely been made up 

 from the purchase of smaller rounds. Many cow-keepers have moved 

 from the inner suburbs to further out ; and have disposed of their 

 retail portion of the business ; and for reasons previously given many 

 other small rounds have changed hands, and the men with ready capital 

 have gathered them in. However, the purchase money has all been 

 derived from the direct profit in tlie milk trade ; and when the public 

 hears that the price of milk has to be raised because the business is not 



