NO ALTERATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 225, 23 September 1938, Page 9

NO ALTERATION.

COUNCIL'S DECISION.

STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM

SALE IN FRUIT SHOPS

A dissertation on strawberries and cream, with a passing reference to fish and chips, enlivened the proceedings of the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council to-day. A Queen Street cream vendor wrote protesting at permission being granted to fruit shops to sell cream in cartons during the strawberry season. Kxpensive plant for handling this trade had been installed, and the cream of the trade was taken away by the fruiterers. In a joint report the board's chief inspector and technical adviser recommended that the practice should be stopped. It was stated that the fruit shops were not required to provide refrigerators. that the sale of milk and cream in any shop where fruit or tables were sold was contrary to the health regulations, and that it'appeared that there was unsatisfactory competition m ith milk shop licensees, the streets where these carton cream licenses were taken out were adequately by the present milk shops. # During la«*t season IS carton cream licenses were granted to fruit shops, principally in Queen Street and Newton.

"I think it is an outrageous thin"-," stated Mr. C. J. Lovegrove. ~

Often in a Hurry. | The chairman. Mr. I. J. floldstine. said that it was a matter for the convenience of the public. People buying strawberries in the evening were often in a hurry and had little time to look for a shop to buy the necessary cream. He could see little harm in the practice where the licenses were confined solelv to the sale of cream in cartons. To make a change wouid cut down the sale of cream. Mr. Lovegrove: It might cut down the sale of strawberries, (hie cannot eat strawberries without cream, and I fail to see why we should impose certain obligations on milk shops and then allow a fruit vendor next door to compete. Mr. J. Haslam pointed out that the cream vendors did not provide cream for customers at night. The trade did not pay. Mr. A. Rosser supported the chairman. It would l»e drastic to try to divorce strawberries from cream. Mr. Lovegrove would be trying next to separate fish from chips. (Laughter.) Mr. R. B. Stonex said that certainly there was a large amount of cream sold by fruit shops, and the average milk vendor did not attempt to cope with the trade. Mr. N. V. Douglas said that though it was a definite convenience to the public lie opposed the sale by fruiterers on principle. Convenience of Public. Mr. H. F. W. Meikle: The convenience of the public is paramount. Mr. Douglas: You have no objection to garlic in your cream? The chairman: The cream is sealed. Mr. Meikle: The cream is darned dear, and if the vendors do not watch themselves there will" be a substitute on the market that will kill the trade stone (lead. I want to see the rich cream put before the peopje at a price that tliey can afford. Mr. R. H. Oekleston : Would there be any objection to the hotels keeping bottled milk? Mr. Meikle: They do. "You cannot buy a bottle of whisky find a bottle of milk at the samo time," said Mr. Oekleston. A resolution was passed allowing the continuance of the practice. Mr. Lovegrove asked for a report of conditions for the storage of the cream. "If the cartons can lie thrown on a heap of carrots or onions and covered with dust I do not call it serving the interests of the public," he said.