MILK SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 14, 11 October 1944, Page 6

MILK SUPPLY

Distribution In Town Areas PROVISIONS IN BILL Special Authorities To Be Formed Control of the supply and distribution of milk in metropolitan and other areas is provided for in the Milk Bill, which Was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday. ,lhe Bill is defined as n measure which is to provide at a reasonable price for an adequate supply of milk of the best quality, having regard to the health of the inhabitants.. It contains 114 clauses, and is divided into nine Darts • Provision is made for the constitution ofTnilk districts, for the amalgamation of two or more districts, and for the abolition'or alteration m the boundaries of existing districts. For each milk district there is to be a milk authority, which may be a borough council or a metropolitan milk board as prescribed by the Governor-General by Order-in-Coun-cil. If the milk authority is a borough council the council is to appoint a standcommittee to be known as the milk committee, which will .have the powers conferred on the council by the Bill except the borrowing of money, the making of a by-law, the making of a contract, and the institution of an action. . In cases where the milk authority ts a metropolitan milk board it is to be a bodv corporate. There are a number ot machinery clauses dealing with the election of members of such boards, the filling of vacancies, and the procedure at meetings. , Powers of Authorities. The principal function of a milk authority is to ensure for the inhabitants of a milk district, at a reasonable price, an adequate supply of milk of a standard of quality not less than the standard prescribed by the Sale of Food and Drugs Act Every authority will have power to buv and sell milk, to treat milk, and to provide for the storage in cool chambers of milk and milk products. Authorities are also to have general powers to devise and initiate as fur as practicable improved methods of producing, collecting, treating, carrying, delivering, and distributing milk, and means to prevent and eliminate wasteful, unnecessary, or unhygienic agencies. There is also power for authorities to devise methods of payment or collection of accounts for milk so us to eliminate as far as possible bad debts. Each milk authority is to put into effect as soon as practicable an economic system of zoning of milk rounds. Authorities arc also empowered to take land for tho purpose of the Bill, to purchase stock and sell it to milk producers, and erect, lease or purchase buildings, plant, machinery. They may also borrow money by special order without taking a poll. . Milk will be brought into a district, treated and sold under licence from the authority concerned, which will become the licensing authority for milk vendors instead of the local authority. A milk authority may purchase the business, of any person engaged in the distribution aiid sale of milk, and no roundsman or other person entitled to dispose of milk may sell the goodwill of bis -business without first offering it to the milk authority. Marketing Division. There is the right of appeal to a magistrate against decisions of a milk authority. The estimated expenditure of a milk authority, less the amount of the estimated income, may be raised by an authority by a levy imposed on milk sold in the district, but it may not exceed oile-eighth of a peuny a gallon, lhe amounts of unearned margins—the amount by which the costs of a milk vendor are less than the costs which are adopted as the basis on which the selling price of milk is fixed—will be paid to a Milk Marketing Division, which is to be established as part of the Marketing Department, to be used for the purpose of any subsidy paid by the Government to or for the benefit of milk producers who ate occupiers of dairies from which milk is supplied for human consumption. A milk authority may make by-laws governing the scheme. For the purposes of the Milk Marketing Division a milk marketing account is to be established at the Reserve Bank. The Bill is to be administered by Lhe Minister of Health. There, is provision for the appointment of a milk appeal authority consisting of oue or more persons to settle differences between producers, vendors and milk authorities. ' The Bill also provides for associations of -producers to form and be recognized as supply associations entitled to supply milk for use or consumption in each milk district. In any case where a supply association has been approved the milk authority of the district is not to bring milk into the district for consumption or sale except such milk as may be supplied by or through an approved producers’ supply association, provided that the milk authority is satisfied that the association or associations can guarantee a sufficient quantity of good milk to meet the full requirements of the area. With the exception of the part of the Bill dealing with the organization of milk producers, the measure does not apply to Wellington. Reference to Committee.

It was intended to take the second reading of the Bill, after which it would be referred to a select committee, probably the Public Health Committee, said the Minister of Health, Mr. Nordiqeyer, in answer to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland, when the new measure was introduced. There would be opportunities given for the taking of evidence. Mr. Nordmoyer said- the Bill was the result of the recommendations made by the recent Royal Commission. The Bill would place the onus of milk handling almost entirely on the local authorities and the Government would declare certain areas as milk areas. The metropolitan milk boards would consist of members elected by the local authorities of the constituent districts included in the combined area. The milk authorities would have wide and extensive powers to carry on their work and they might if they wished take over the whole of the milk business in their areas or might issue licences to those in the milk business. Mr. Polson (Opposition, Stratford): Is there to be any central national organization to control the scheme? Air. Nordmeyer: The Government gave consideration to the question of local or national control. It was decided to give local authorities the chance to do the job. The Prime Minister said that as the Bill was a fairly lengthy and comprehensive measure it might: be - better to take the second reading debate on Wednesday week. The Leader of the Opposition indicated that this would be suitable.