Criticism of milkman draws sharp retort

Press, 28 May 1979, Page 6

Criticism of milkman draws sharp retort

Criticism of a Christ-1 church milkman by a supermarket manager has drawn a sharp response from the Christchurch Milk Vendors’; Association. The item appeared in “The Press” on Saturday. Mr J,I Turner, manager of the Fendalton New World Supermarket, said that the

■lMilk Board and the vendor •(were using “anachronistic ) • regulations” Governing the s delivery of milk. 'I But Mr 1. M. Murray, {president of the Milk Venodors' Association. said , I yesterday that Mr Turner ;‘,was being “unreasonable” to | jexpect a regulation to be 0 changed just to suit his particular circumstances. “Twilight delivery times! were introduced in Christ-! church two years ago, mainly! to overcome' the problem of theft from milk bottles and to make milk available tol the consumer at a more con-! • venient time," he said. I A regulation had been in-1 troduced by the Milk Board' that made shop owners pro-1 vide a “suitable receptacle"' for the storage of milk over-1 night if the store was closed! at the time of delivery. “Mr Turner has refused to co-operate by providing a. suitable receptacle although • he has been reminded of ms obligations on several occa-! sions,” Mr Murray said. I It had been generally recognised that corner dairies had been the main source of milk supply for consumers who could not arrange home, delivery.

•i These shops usually remained open until the vendor ■ had made his delivery or in I some cases provided a key . so that the vendor could put • the milk inside. L Mr Turner had refused to ••allow the vendor access to >'his store. ■ “With the fluctuating demands of consumers today it . is generally only possible to service shops at the end of a vendor's round: most venidors use a shop as a 'balancing point’," said Mr Murray. i In the case of Mr Turner's ! shop, which was open only five days a week, it would Ibe unprofitable for the vendor to make special deliveries. I Nothing had been done by Mr Turner to provide a i suitable container during the ' six months the vendor had i made deliveries to his shop. i Now that the Waimairi • County Council’s health inspectors had told the vendor • that he could be prosecuted !if he continued to deliver milk in this way, he had no . choice but to stop deliveries until Mr Turner complied with the regulations, Mr i Murray said.