CITY MILK SUPPLY

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 140, 10 December 1918, Page 3

CITY MILK SUPPLY

i The Secretary bf the Wellington Licensed Milk Vendors' Association requests The Post to state, in reply ta remarks which have been made by Ccancillor Norwood, chairman of the Milk" Committee, Wellington City Council, that the Wellington City Milk Supply Bill was withdrawn: as the result principally of Clause 6, which read: , ■" Corporation to. have ilogopoly.—6. (1) Alter the passing of this; Act it shall not be lawful for any person^ whether as principal, , agent, or otherwise (other than tho Corporation, and its servants or agents):—(a) To sell milk, or (b) to deliver milk in pursuance of a contract,of sale made, whether' within the city or elsewhere*, or (c) to have milk in his possession for sale, save, under a^ license issued in that behalf by the council, and in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof. (2) Nothing, in .this Act shall make it an offence to sell milk for consumption on the. premises of the seller, or to have possession of milk for. the purpose of such sale." ■

This clause gave absolute power to the' council to have a. monopoly in selling milk -within the City of Wellington, or elsewhere. No provision "whatever was made iii the Bill for compensation to vendors whose.businesses might, be absolutely sacrificed. Clause 7 gave power to the council to grant, refuse, or revoke a license. That

clause read:—.'? Power to grant, refuse, and revoke licenses.—7. (1) For the purpose of securing for,the inhabitants of the city ;an.adequate supply of. milk 'of ■ good quality, and at a reasonable price the council may in its absolute discretion grant, refuse, or (revoke any such' license as aforesaid, and may in granting any such license, grant it on such terms and .conditions as the- council thinks proper for'the purposes .aforesaid. (2) By such terms. and. conditions the council" may limit the exercise of the license to a' specified portion of the city only." Under clause 7 the council at its absolute discretion can grant a license to one vendor,, and without assigning any reason can refuse to grant a license to any_ other vendor. No right of appeal by the j vendor whose business is affected by refusal to grant, a license or revocation of a license when granted is provided tinder this clause. With such arbitrary proyision included in the Bill the vendors had no option but to raise a strenuous opposition to the passing, of the measure.

I desire that it should be made known that the members of rnyassociation hjive offered, ..and are Vtill willing to offer, their businesses' to the council for purchase by'the council at. a reasonable price. They are prepared ■to enter into any reasonable and equitable arrangement which will enable a better system of distribution of supplies within the city to be carried out, and, further; are prepared to strenuously resist any unreasonable,competition- which the City Council may arrange in connection with the city milk supply. • The vendors cannot be blamed for the expenditure of-the large sums by the City Council in its endeavour to bring about changes. The expenditure has been made entirely by the council without reference to the vendors, and- if loss results the responsibility must rest entirely with the City Council's Milk Committee •■■'-. \