Milk Change Opposed

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30762, 28 May 1965, Page 3

Milk Change Opposed

(N.Z. Press Association) DUNEDIN, May 27. The New Zealand Milk Authorities’ Association will “fight for survival” against proposed legislation changes which would put the milk industry almost entirely under Government control.

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys) was described as “two-fftced,” “misinformed” and “heavy-handed” with other people’s money when the association today hotly disputed his proposal to transfer arbitrarily from local milk authorities to the New

Zealand Milk Board the ad ministration of delivery zon ing schemes. The association decided to ask the Minister to reconsider his proposal and to suggest any possible way in which the function of the local authorities could be improved. A number of organisations, including the Consumer Council, the Counties’ Association, the National Council of Women and the Municipal Authorities Association will be asked to support the protest.

The president (Mr K. J. Marlow, of Dunedin) said the proposed amendment to the Milk Act would virtually eliminate local milk authorities, leaving them to administer only such matters as hygiene.

“This amounts to taking away from the consumer through his elected representatives the right to run his own affairs.” he said. Mr D. B. Mills, of Hamilton, said Mr Talboys’s proposal amounted to empire building—the creation of another Government department.

The central government was trying to take away the strength of local governments, in spite of frequent statements by the Minister of Internal Affairs that local bodies should do more.

“Mr Taiboys says the main reason for his proposals was the build-up of profit by the authorities,” said Mr Mills. “But we have been carrying out negotiations, to which the Milk Board agreed, to enable us to distribute our profits.” Milk Board investigations on reconstituted milk came under fire when the association was told it had been “kept in the dark” about them.

Delegates objected strongly to any possible replacement of natural milk by reconstituted milk. The association decided to press for representation on the board’s committee to review the findings of the economic and technical committees now carrying out the investigations.

Growing Roll The New Zealand Medical Association now has a membership of 416, and its executive is thinking of holding its first elections in the near future. This was announced in the latest issue of the association’s magazine.