AUCKLAND MILK COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 234, 2 October 1937, Page 8

AUCKLAND MILK COUNCIL.

Much has been published concerning the above council and the milk question. The Act gives the council a monopoly, and it is using the powers and privileges "conferred by that Act arbitrarily. When it was passed by the former Government numerously-signed petitions were sent to the Government against it being finally passed. But they had no effect. The Act gives th« council power to debar any milk produced outside a limited area being supplied to the city. Milk produced beyond that area the farmer has to supply to the factory at less than half the price for butter or cheese than that paid for city supplv. Before the Act established the Milk Council the price of milk was 3d per quart in a free, competitive market. One would expect a Labour Government which claims to have done much for Labour would amend or repeal this Act .and give the public either municipal control or a free, open market. I think this would be preferable. But even under municipal control people do not get cheap milk; it is not managed with economy. The cost of administration, which the public ha-? to pay 111 the milk price, is too high. Pasteurisation of milk is not liked by many people. It is stale when delivered to the consumer. Many prefer ffesh milk. I have been many years in the dairy business, both in the production and the retail part of it. When the Wellington City Council took control of the milk supply the price was raised 3d a quart immediately . The Auckland Milk Council is now preparing to amend the Milk Act to give it more control; a bill will be introduced in the present session for this purpose. This latest move | will probably mean a further rise in the milk price. Zoning milk rounds is not practicable. MILK PROBLEM.