MILK BILL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 285, 1 December 1944, Page 6

MILK BILL

RADICAL CHANGES CENTRAL BODY PLAN (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, this day. The Milk Bill was reported back to the House of Representatives this morning with numerous amendments. Included in the amendments is a provision for setting up a Central Milk Council. As reported back, the measure is practically a new bill. The chairman of the Milk Bill Committee, Mr. Anderton (Govt., Eden), reported that the committee had heard evidence on the bill and had carefully considered it, and recommended that it be allowed to proceed with the amendments. He moved that the report lis on the table.

.The Central Milk Council, which is proposed, consists of the Minister of Health, the Director of Milk Marketing, one person to be selected from a panel of not less than three persons nominated by the Municipal Association of New Zealand and appointed on the recommendation of the Minister of Health; two persons —one from the South Island and one from the North Island—nominated by some organisation or organisations of persons engaged in the production of milk for human consumption, and appointed on the recommendation of the Minister of Agriculture; and two other persons, one to be a woman, doemed to be representative of the interests of women and children, these two to be appointed on the recommendation of the Minister of Health.

The Minister of Agriculture may request such organisation or organisations of persons engaged in milk production to nominate such a number of persons as he may specify to enable him to determine who shall be recommended as representatives of the North and South Island./

The Minister of Health will be chairman of the council, and members, apart from the Minister and the Director of Milk Marketing, will be appointed for three years. Fees or allowances and travelling expenses are to be paid to members of the council. Objects of Council The general objects of the .council include the provision of an adequate supply of milk of good quality and the organisation of production, treatment and distribution of milk on an economic basis, having regard to the need for an adequate supply of milk. The functions of the council will also include research and investigation relating to milk and milk products, and the promotion of improved methods of producing and handling milk (including the distribution of milk in sealed containers). :The council is also empowered to make recommendations to the Government regarding milk districts, and also as to the standards of milk, and to guide and supervise the activities of milk authorities. Authority is given to direct a milk authority to operate a pasteurisation plant. . Inquiries may be made by the council into the adequacy of steps taken by local milk authorities, in carrying out their functions, and as to the maximum amount that may be paid for the goodwill of businesses of milk vendors. Disputes between milk authorities and producers and vendors may be referred to the council for settlement. After consultation with milk authorities the council may fix the maximum amounts to be paid for the goodwill of businesses. Public notice shall be given of the deter- : minatton of a goodwill, and after that notice : anyone selling ipv buying the goodwill of a vendor at a price in excess of the amount fixed is liable to a fine of £20, or twice the amount ! of the excess, whichever is greater. , Technical Committees i The council is empowered to ap- ! point technical committees for inves- . tigating and reporting on any matters relating to the council's objects. ! The Milk Marketing Division is ' charged with the administration of • th» Act.

Two clauses relating to unearned margins and their applications are deleted.

The clause in the Bill as originally drafted, dealing with the organisation of milk producers is deleted, and replaced by one providing for the approval by the Central Milk Council of producers' associations and supply organisations. Where the council is satisfied that where only one association of milk producers is approved for a district, and that that association can supply all the milk for the district, then the council shall approve that association as the supply association for the district, where more than one association of milk producers is approved for a district and the council is satisfied that those associations together can supply the district, then the council may direct those associations to form a committee of supply, which shall be approved as the i supply association for the district. There shall not be more than one supply association for any district.

Mr. Connolly (Govt., Dunedin West) reported on behalf of the Milk Bill committee that at the final meeting yesterday the committee unanimously passed a resolution thanking the chairman, Mr. Anderton, for bis services during the -hearing, and expressing appreciation of his firmness, fairness and tact in the conduct of the committee's business.