AT EXTRA COST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 275, 20 November 1935, Page 23

AT EXTRA COST.

MILK FOR HOSPITAL. INTIMATION TO BOARD. I.ETTER FROM THE COUNCIL. As a result of the Auckland Hospital now being included in the Auckland metropolitan milk district and the fixing of the price for its milk supplies at lid per gallon, the Auckland Hospital Board will be required to pay £1030 additional a year over what it has been paying for milk.

This fact was mentioned at a meeting of the board yesterday afternoon when the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council advised the effect that the passing of the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Amendment Act, 1935, would have on the board. The council pointed out that the Auckland Domain and hospital reserve were now included in the milk district. As from December 1 next it would, therefore, be necessary for the board to pay lid per gallon net for milk received at the Auckland Hospital or Infirmary and 1/8 per gallon for relief milk delivered loose.

In replv to a question as to the meaning of the Milk Council's letter, the chairman, Mr. William Wallace, said that it meant £1030 or more a year to the board.

The Rev. W. C. Wood said that a groat deal of stress was laid when evidence was being heard in Wellington in connection with the Amendment Art that if the board was not satisfied with tho price fixed it was within its province to enter a protest. He certainly thought that in fixing the price at lid a gallon the council was fixing the price too high. Personally he thought 10d a gallon would have been a reasonable price to charge.

Mr. G. T. Parvin, in moving that the council's letter be referred to the finance committee for a report, pointed out that the average price returned to the producers for milk was 6d a gallon and therefore the council would be making 5d a gallon out of the board. Mr. Wallace: You will never get satisfaction until you get a Milk Council elected by the people. Dr. B. B. Gunson: A protest won't put that right. Mr. Wallace added that the board tried hard to get the council to agree to taking lOd. a gallon from the board, and it assured the council there would be no opposition to the bill if that were done. An inquiry was held in Wellington with the result that they wore just where they were. Dr. Gunson considered the board would be entitled to take a magistrate's opinion on the matter of the price on general grounds. Mr. Wallace: Just to relieve your minds a little I might point out that we have paid 1/ a gallon for milk.

It was agreed to refer the matter to the finance committee in accordance with Mr. Parvin's suggestion. Later in the meeting it was resolved on the motion of Dr. Gunson to apply to the Milk Council for detailed information as to the steps it was taking to ensure tho bacteriological purity of its milk supply to the board. "I know the council is up against a big thing," said Dr. Gunson, "but this is a matter of material moment to us." Ho added that if the information proved satisfactory to the board the latter would not need to undertake its present costly investigations in the matter of its milk supplies.