CONSOLIDATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 155, 2 July 1937, Page 3

CONSOLIDATION.

TOWN MILK ROUNDS. 1 VENDORS SEEK SUPPORT, j PLEA TO GOVERNMENT. Whether the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council was justified in suspending its cont.lidation scheme pending Parliament's decision concerning suggested amendment* to the Milk Act was a question discussed at length at this morning's meeting of the council. Mr. •T. Haslam moved: "That the resolution stopping consolidation pa«wed on May 28 last be rescinded and that consolidation be recommenced on July 2."' The motion was rejected by six votes to three. in bringing the motion forward. Mr. Haslam said the council hod a duty to perform, and it was childish to suspend .a scheme that had been initiated because somebody disagreed with what was being done. Supporting the motion. Mr. R. S. Smith said that on numerous occasions he had appeared before the council on behalf of groups of vendors to demand consolidation of rounds right up to th; , point of effective zoning. Over 90 per cent of vendors desired consolidation, and the majority of them also favoured zoning. It was realised by all that any movement to bring about "more econonp • distribution interfered with the right of the consumer to free purchase, and they must recognise the council's present objection to bringing down a complete zoning scheme.

He knew tlie council had in mind a. certain petition, which vendors were going to present to consumers, requesting their assistance in a plea to the Government not to grant to the council increased powers. Mr. C. L. Smith said that consumers' representatives dominated the council. The only way the producer could receive a fair return was by a continuation of the- consolidation scheme. Future Reduction. Mr. X. V. Douglas said some of the vendors had had their mileage reduced from 20 to as low a* four, with no corresponding saving to the consumer or increased return to the producer. Tlie council was in the.position to assure the public that if its amendments were approved by Parliament the consumers would have their milk reduced by at least a halfpenny per quart. Zoning was in operation at Avomlale and the Xorth Shore, and the public in those places paid a halfpenny less for their eupplies than did consumers in other areas. Mr. E. F. Andrews said the vendor* must have great confidence in their influence with customers if they thought they could induce them to sign the petition. Mr. H. F. W. Meikle said the prices of rounds had increased by 300 per cent. If consolidation were continued under present conditions, £20 a gallon would be paid for rounds in future as against the present rate of £10. The extra cost would have to be borne by the public. Mr. R. H- Ockleston said the discus- : sion had demonstrated the. necessity of the council getting its amendments through Parliament. Mr. A. Rosser said the old battle had been shifted to another front. Those who opposed the amendments previously would now be supporting the present consolidation scheme. Once the amendments were passed by Parliament the council could carry out a comprehensive scheme. Chairman's Reply.

The chairman. Mr. I. J. Goldstine. said the public should know the position. The council had endeavoured to carry out a certain amount of consolidation in the hope that sufficient would l»e accomplished to effect certain savings. Under voluntary consolidation only one person was benefiting—the vendor. With zoning, both the consumer ami producer benefited. NTow the vendor was turning round and biting the hand that had fed him. Every member of the council was of opinion that consolidation must be brought about, but the council also held that zoning was necessary as well. At the present time, however, the council was not in a position to offer to the public a standard quality of milk, but under a complete consolidation and zoning scheme the council could guarantee a standard, and it would not matter then who served a customer as everybody would receive the same quality. That was not the case under the voluntary scheme. The only salvation for the consumer and the producer was the passing of the council's amendments. If the legislation went through a comprehensive scheme would be evolved resulting in a reduction to the consumer and an increased price to the producer. The vendor would also participate in the saving. "If the consumer does not want the price of milk reduced then he will sign the petition," concluded the chairman. The voting was as follows: —For the motion: Messrs. Haslam, C. L. Smith. R. 'Si Smith. Against: Messrs. Goldstine, Andrews. Douglas, Meikle, Ockleston and Rosser.