LOCAL MILK COUNCILS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24444, 19 December 1944, Page 3

LOCAL MILK COUNCILS

CONSUMER REPRESENTATION URGED

Direct consumer representation on any local milk councils which might be set up under the Milk Act was urged by a deputation from the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Women’s Food Value League, which waited on the Christchurch City Council last evening. The deputation suggested that consumer representatives should be elected by the public in the same way as local body representatives. If this was done the Food Value League would support increased powers for local milk authorities to provide an adequate supply of good quality milk for the towns from clean and healthy herds. Cr. M. E. Lyons informed the deputation that the Milk Act expressly provided that no one could be elected to the milk authority which was to be set up unless he was a member of a local body in the area. The Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) said that the council was entirely in agreement with the necessity for a clean milk supply. On various occasions it had taken very drastic steps to attain this object, and it was spending money on the inspection which should be spent by the Government, The deputation’s submissions were referred to the milk committee and the milk zoning committee. In a brief discussion after the deputation had retired Cr. Lyons referred to the necessity of eradicating contagious abortion and mammitis among cattle. Contagious abortion could lead to undulant fever in human beings. At present the Government had too few inspectors to examine all cattle.