CITY MILK SUPPLY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 216, 12 September 1944, Page 3

CITY MILK SUPPLY

LICENSE QUESTION REQUESTS BY DAIRYMEN Applications for the issue of a number of permanent licenses for the supply of milk to city distributing firms formed the basis of a lengthy discussion by the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council yesterday afternoon. Following a division, it was decided to grant temporary licenses for three months until the position as to future supply was clarified. An amendment that all applications for permanent licenses be granted was defeated. In a report, the secretary, Mr. N. R. Chapman, said that at the last meeting consideration of applications from farmers who held temporary licenses had been deferred, the Town Milk Officer having requested that no new licenses be granted to dairymen. These applicants and others pointed out that they had gone to considerable trouble and expense in preparing for town supply. The Auckland Milk Company, Ltd., continued the report, had expressed disappointment that the milk being received from a number of temporary suppliers had ceased on the expiration of the temporary license period on August 31. These farmers had held unconditional licenses from the Department of Agriculture for some time. It was stated by the company that the Town Milk Officer had informed the executive of the Whole Milk Producers' Association that under the new set-up all dairymen holding milk council licenses, whether permanent of temporary, would be eligible for permanent town supply licenses if licensed by the Department of Agriculture. This, it was said, would apply whether there was a supply association or a federation of pools. Reason for Introduction After referring to other applications, the secretary stated that the council's policy had always been to allow such permanent licenses as the companies required, having in mind what effect the granting of these would have on the payout by companies. It was for this reason that the system of temporary licenses had been introduced. In order to get suppliers to take temporary licenses, the milk companies had promised them that when their herds were regulated in order to produce regular quantities monthly they would be supported for permanent licenses. The New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., would not accept any but permanent licenses. "The purport of the Town Milk Officer's instruction was to limit the number of producers in the pool," said Mr. C. J. Lovegrove, in advocating that all applications be granted. Temporary licenses would become permanent under the new set-up. At present temporary licenses created domestic difficulties for some companies. It would be a mistaken policy to decline licenses, for it might well be that the arranging of next winter's milk supply might fall on the council. It was decided to request the Town Milk Officer and the Whole Milk Producers' Association for a definition of policy. The policy in regard to zoning was also discussed following an application from a vendor, Mr. A. E. Scott, to continue to supply a customer who had moved out of his zone in Grey Lynn. The applicant also asked for the extension of his area to include some new blocks of houses. Members were opposed to the vendor being allowed to follow up a customer on the grounds that the whole system of zoning would be undermined. The report of the acting zoning officer, Mr. P. O. Moir, against granting the license to supply outside the area was adopted, as also was his recommendation for the issue of a temporary license to cope with the custom sought.