MILK BOARD’S ATTITUDE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28792, 13 January 1959, Page 8

MILK BOARD’S ATTITUDE

Suppliers’ Move Deplored

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WELLINGTON, January 12.

The New Zealand Milk Board would do all it could to obtain supplementary supplies of milk for the Napier-Hastings area, said the board’s chairman (Mr L. V. Phillips) today. ,

“It is difficult to understand the action of any responsible group of milk producers in coming to a decision to withhold supplies of milk for town consumers.” said Mr Phillips. “It is certainly not a move which is likely to win them the support of the consumers in the area who will be affected by the decision.”

The reported reason for the diversion to factory purposes of a substantial quantity of town milk was the producers’ dissatisfaction with the Government’s decision on the town milk price payable to producers for the current year. Although the price question was entirely a matter between the New Zealand Town Milk Producers’ Federation and the Government, his board had the responsibility of ensuring to the best of its ability that the milk requirements- of the consumers were adequately met. The board would take all possible steps to secure supplementary supplies for the area.

“It is to be hoped that the traditional good sense of the Hawke’s Bay producers will reassert itself, and that they will quickly restore the flow of the normal quantity of milk for the benefit of those depending on it for their daily requirement,” added Mr Phillips.