PRISONERS' MILK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 230, 28 September 1934, Page 8

PRISONERS' MILK.

PRICE PAID IN AUCKLAND.

STATEMENT REFUTED. "Before a responsible Minister of the Crown makes a statement he should be sure of his facts," said the chairman of the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council at this morning's meeting when referring to a statement reported to have been made in the House of Representatives by the Minister of Justice, Mr. Cobbe, in respect to the price of milk supplied to the Mount Eden Gaol for the use of prisoners.

Mr. A. C. Trousdale said a letter should be forwarded to- the Minister ]>ojnting out the price paid, and Mr. F. W. Stonex said the letter should state that the price the producer received was 7Jd a gallon.

In the course of discussion it was stated that the Mount Eden Gaol received six gallons a day, and the price was 1/01 a gallon, this being the schedule price for the quantity fixed by the Milk Council.

The Chairman: Mr. Cobbe was a mem. ber of the committee and should know,

Mr. Stonex: He might not know the price the farmer is receiving. He might think the trade is charging 1/8 a gallon.

Mr. H. F. W. Meikle said the Minister might have been quoting prices charged in other parts of New Zealand. Mr. J. Littlejohn: I would like to know the price being paid by other prisons in order to substantiate the statement that milk is too dear here.

Mr. H. P. Burton said that a supply of six gallons a day would not help much in building up bone and muscle. "The Minister is only side-stepping the issue raised by Mr. Jordan," said Mr. Hutchison. "The price paid in Auckland does not affect to the extent of a half pint the quantity purchased." It was decided to write to the Minister informing him of the position in Auckland, and asking him to furnish the council with the price paid for milk supplied to gaols throughout the Dominion.