COUNCIL REFUSES TO INSTRUCT MILK BOARD

Press, Volume C, Issue 29672, 16 November 1961, Page 14

COUNCIL REFUSES TO INSTRUCT MILK BOARD

By 14 votes to font, the City Council last evening rejected a motion that its representatives on the Christchurch Metropolitan Milk Board should ask the Milk Consumers’ Protection Association to suggest ways by which the right of choice of raw or pasteurised milk could be given. The association, reminding the council of a resolution passed in 1952 agreeing that there should be a right of choice, asked it to "restrain” its representatives on the board from altering the bylaw dealing with right of choice. It also asked that tl.e board should reinstitute toe delivery of raw milk, “without delay and as formerly ” Cr. T. D. Flint, who proposed the request to board members, said he did not see how the council could refute the previous resolution 1 h ? ve always maintained that the people should have the right of choice,” said Cr. G. D. Griffiths. Now that the high percentage of tuberculosis and brucellosis had been reduced toe

freedom of choice should be restored, Cr. G. A, G. Connal said. The Milk Board was a separate local body, and the council should not instruct another autonomous body, said Cr. G. D. Hattaway. who; is chairman of the board. “The board has given this, careful consideration oven the last few months,” he said. 'The first objective of thei board was to see whether the past policy of right of choice was possible." The board had considered information from the Health Department. the Department of Agriculture, and the World Health Organisation. Cr. Hattaway continued. “There has been a wealth of information, all of which goes to show that pasteurisation in a city such as this Is the only safe course from the health point of view.” Cr. Hattaway said. A compromise had been made and it was the sincere wish of every member of the board ta "do the right thing in toe light of the evidence that was riven to it.” After Cr. Flint’s motion had been rejected, the association’s letter was received.