Vendors join fight over milk pricing

Press, 24 May 1985, Page 5

Vendors join fight over milk pricing

The Federation of Milk Vendors has decided to join forces with other sectors of the town milk industry in protest against recommendations by the Industries Development Commission.

The federation decided at its regional CanterburyWestland meeting last evening to meet milk producers and milk station management on June 4.

Mr lan Murray, president of the federation, said that a joint submission would be prepared for presentation to the commission during a public hearing beginning on July 22.

The commission has recommended removal of price controls for retailed

milk, and the elimination of zoning for milk vendors. Inhibiting regulations and a large decline in milk sales are threatening the survival of the town milk industry, according to the commission.

Mr Murray said that the commission’s recommendations, if endorsed by the Government, would lead to higher prices for milk delivered to homes.

“By removing the zoning on milk stations and vendors, more milk will be sold in supermarkets making home deliveries more expensive,” he said. “We are going to point out to the commission and the Government that this

would effectively mean the end of milk delivery to homes. “The commission’s recommendation to open the industry up to more competition is really the thin end of the wedge. In the long run it will be the consumers who are affected.”

The town milk industry was determined to retain a widespread home delivery service, Mr Murray said. “The commission suggests the removal of all controls on the town milk industry. This would create chaos putting milk vendors, town milk suppliers, milk station and Milk Board staff out of work.”