PASTEURISING OF MILK

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24869, 8 May 1946, Page 6

PASTEURISING OF MILK

—i ,— _ CENTRAI. COUNCIL’S POLICY DIRECTOR TO VISIT CHRISTCHURCH The Director of Milk Marketing (Mr H. H. Innes) will visit Christchurch in the next fortnight to discuss with the Christchurch Metropolitan Milk Board public ownership of milk treating plant. At the last meeting of the board it was decided to reaffirm its opposition to any change from private enterprise, but the Central Milk Council has decided that milk treating plant in Auckland, Lower Hutt, Christchurch, and Dunedin shall be operated by public organisations, either the local boards or special corporations. , , Mr Innes visited Auckland this week to seek the assistance of the Auckland Milk Board in the appointment of consumers’ representatives on the corporation the Milk Council has decided to set up in Auckland. He told the board that, as it had made it plain it was opposed in principle to the public control of treating houses, the council thought it would be unfair to ask it, as a conscript in effect, to implement the policy, and the council was prepared to assume responsibility. There would be two representatives of the consumers and two of producers on the corporation and one nominee of the Government. . , Mr Innes said the council intended to proceed with the establishment of the corporation in Auckland. The Minister of Marketing had power under the Agricultural Emergency Act. 1934, and the Marketing Act. The board’s solicitor (Mr J. B. Johnston) expressed doubt whether the Minister had the necessary power, but said validating legislation could be passed when parliament met. The position in Christchurch is a little different, as the Milk Marketing Division of the Marketing Department has not received any advice from the Christchurch board taking a definite stand against public control of pasteurising plants in Christchurch. In the Christchurch board’s resolution supporting continuance of the present system in the meantime it was stated that, if a change in this policy was necessary, the board would favour assuming control in preference to the establishment of a new corporation.