City Milk Business

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 287, 31 August 1931, Page 11

City Milk Business

Sir, —It was with some surprise and also resentment that I lead the paragraph on Saturday morning in your editorial column. It is not the first time that unpardonable paragraphs on the milk department have appeared. It is expected of a paper of “The Dominion’s” standing that it should be sure of its facts before making such a statement, and further, that a Wellington paper would stand four-square behind a municipal undertaking that was forced by circumstances on its unwilling shoulders. Let me endeavour to correct the wrong impression broadcast by your unfortunate article. You say: “A practically absolute monopoly.” It is the very fact that we have no such monopoly that has made the proposed legislation necessary to cope with the breaking of the law by those in business as well as ourselves. These lawbreakers are protected by the very Act that we are working under, as against their fellow producers just outside the two-mile limit. “Exemption from Rates and Taxes.” There is no exemption. The department pars the same as any other trading concern, with the one exception as set out for all local bodies in. the Municipal Corporations Act. “Cheap Finance.” How can this be? We have to pay the same interest on borrowed capital as anyone else. “And yet Wellington does not get cheap milk.” Considering the conditions of purchase as set -out by arbitration, and the safeguards to get good safe milk, the charges are low. “Payment of cash in advance.” Does “The Dominion” seriously suggest the corporation should give credit with < an article like milk, many consumers of which are here to-day and gone to-mor-row? No, sir, let your criticism and suggestions be fair, with the true facts, and no one would object, but such articles as you have produced are the limit.—l am, etc., W. H. BENNETT, Chairman of the Milk Committee. August 30. 1931. [Mr. Bennett attempts to deny (or minimise) the possession of advantages in municipal over private trading v.-hieh must be obvious to everyone except him self.]