FIXING MILK PRICES

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22727, 3 June 1939, Page 14

FIXING MILK PRICES

Tribunal May Be Set Up CONFERENCE APPROVES SCHEME A plan to set up a tribunal in Christchurch, to hear evidence on a milk price fixation scheme was adopted by a special conference of all parties interested called by the lYiilk committee of the Christchurch City Council last evening. This scheme will be considered by the Christchurch City Council at its next meeting, and, if approved, representations will then be made to the Acting-Minister for Internal Marketing (the Hon. W. Lee Martin). The conference, the proceedings of which were held in committee, was convened to hear the view of the three parties interested in milk prices in the city—the producers, vendors, and consumers. After the conference, the chairman of the milk committee of the Christchurch City Council (Miss Mabel Howard), who presided, stated that the outcome of the meeting was the unanimity of all parties in recommending to the next meeting of the council that the Minister for Marketing be asked to set up a tribunal in the city to decide on a scheme for price fixation. Evidence wduld be heard from representatives of the producers, the vendors, and the consumers. If the plan was approved by the tribunal, the necessary steps would then be taken to fix prices by a special Order-in-Council. For some time, all parties concerned have been dissatisfied with the present’milk-selling arrangements. Attempts have been made in the past, through the Internal Marketing Department, to obtain a fixed price. It is considered that the City Council’s Milk Bill, to go before Parliament at the next session, cannot be called into operation in much less than two years, because of administrative and other questions involved.