CITY MILK BILL

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 260, 3 August 1928, Page 14

CITY MILK BILL

NEARBY FARMERS’ CASE. Mr. J. Purchase, chairman of the Nearby Farmers’ Suburban Association, has replied as follows to the statement made a few days ago by Mr. W. 11. Bennett regarding tlie Wellington Milk Supply Act Amendment Bill. ... "If the municipal milk scheme is threatened,” said Mr. Purchase, "it is not by the nearby farmers. The responsibility rests entirely with the committee ot management, as no right-thinking section or the community would tolerate some of its methods. Small numbers of tanners were vending their produce in tlie city in 191 J, aud had made commitments long before the city scheme was thought of, .yet all they were offered was to join up with the companies created by the Milk Committee, which would have been suicidal, in view of the disparity of cost of production and vending. _• , ' “Mr. Bennett’s remarks in reference to the nearby fanners becoming the city’s dairymen, and wanting to establish rounds on the basis of the maximum summer supply, display the usual ignorance of one who knows nothing of the production side. The maximum of most nearby farmers is never reached in the summer, but in the autumn or winter, and it is in the dry periods that we require the power by statute to obtain such milk as will allow us to carry our rounds fully supplied until conditions become again favourable. "One of the conditions imposed by Parliament was that we should be restricted in our buying operations to fire gallons a day from amongst ourselves for a period of no longer than fourteen days, but, unfortunately, local conditions made it impossible for us to take advantage of the situation. The main reason why buying activities were restricted was the promises made by the council that in the event of shortage we should buy from them, and they would supply. But why should the nearby farmer have to buy pasteurised milk, and thereby become an agent for the Wellington City Council, when fresh milk is what lie wants? It is difficult for the farmer to prove that the council has the milk to sell, but. by refusing, tlie council can take our trade, as provisions preclude the farmers buying outside. If the milk is secured from the council it charges us the full retail rate of 2s. 4d., whereas should we have a surplus and wish to dispose of it, the-most wo receive is Gd. per gallon. Having fenced tlie nearby farmers In by Act of Parliament, immediately the Citv‘Council has set to work to take advantage of the position. Tills is the reason why the farmers have gone back to Parliament, to whom we must look to obtain freedom. The present situation is not one of the nearby farmers’ seeking, but after nine years’ fighting for the rights of ordinary citizens we have been compelled to couie back by the form of the present local Bill. Had the City Council shown a tendency to meet us on even ground, instead of adopting the air of superiority, I am quite positive the present situation would never have arisen, as there is plenty of room for both parties to opersir in (1m city. If Councillor Bennett is still so mueli concerned as to the results whatever lliey may lie. then it is not yet ton lute, even now, for him to do the right thing.”