THE MILK DEPOT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1248, 5 October 1911, Page 6

THE MILK DEPOT.

PRIVATE VENDORS PROTEST, A deputation representing the ■Wellington Fresh Food aud Ice Company and other owners of milk depots in this city waited upon Sir .lames Carroll yesterday in reference to tho proposal to municipalise the milk supply. Mr. A. L. Hordnian, M.P., in inlroducing tho deputation, staled that the Wellington City Council had promoted a Bill extending its powers to establish a municipal ilepat through which all milk would have to pass before it reached Iho consumer. The deputation represented tho local milk-vending linns, including the Wellington I're'Ji I'ood and lee Company, in which £10,001) had been invested. It asked that, if the Bill were allowed to pass, some protection should l>o given to established local industry., Failing Hub, it would be destroyed. Mr. J. M'Lellan, of tho Fresh Food and lee Company, said his firm was already doing what the City Comicil was asking leave to do. The. h'rm, which had bi!en in existence for thirteen or fourteen years had maintained a depot on tho lines of that contemplated by tho City Council. They wero working under tho Health Department, and wero subject to all inspection, bi'ing licensed by the City Council. Tlr'l'd scorned to bo an idea abroad that tho company, because, of its opposition to the Bill, desired to shirk inspection. This was quite incorrect. Tho company had been started not so much with the idea of making money as to give tho public a good wholesome article. They had no objection to the city paying it would enter the business, but they had a decided objection to the city faying the company should not do the fame. Mr. Ilerdman: H is paid that if the clause is not kept in the Bill (he measure Mill become inoperative. Is that so? Mr. M'Lcllaii: No; it will prevent the city from having a monopoly. There ia no' reason why tho city should not conduct its business alongside us. Mr. ,T. G. W. Aitken said the Bill was a local Bill, and if it were passed in its present form Ihe same privileges and domamls for monopoly would Ijo made by other cities. In reply to a question by Sir Janice Carroll Mr. M'Lcllau slated that the company had undo representations to the City Council. Sir James Carroll: You hayo no objection to increasing the severity of inspection ? * Mr. M'Lellan: None, whatever; in fact we ratlicr welcome it. Sir James Carroll: You ask only to 1» put in exactly the same position as the city authorities in dealing with your supplies? Mr. M'LeUan: That is fo. H\r .lamcfl Carroll promised to sjibmit tho representations of the deputation to tlic Government.