"PRUSSIANISM"

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 27, 31 January 1919, Page 3

"PRUSSIANISM"

PERTURBED MILK

VENDORS

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST COUNCILS SCHEME

SERIOUS CHARGES OF MISMAN

AGEMENT.

A general meeting of milk vendors, called by four of the chief vending firms, for the purpose of considering the vendors' position under the City Council's new milk scheme, was held at the Town Hall last night. There was an attendance of thirty-two, and Mr. C. J. Duffy was elected to preside. The members of the press were requested not to publish the names of any of the speakers as "we desire a free and open discussion without any fear of victimisation."

The Chairman stated that the meeting appeared to be a very necessary thing indeed. The council's original idea was to supply purer milk, to compensate the vendors fully, and to take the vendors into its confidence in every way. None of these things had been done. Countless meetings between the vendors and the Special Slilk Committee had been held, and much inconvenience had been caused, until they had reached the present stage. The original circular relating to the terms and conditions on which the milk would be supplied had not met with unanimous approval. It set the price of milk to the vendors at Is Id per gallon, but owing to unsatisfactory ousmess methods the price had now been raised to Is 2d. Probably the price would continue to rise until the vendors were ultimately "squeezed oS the face of the earth." There was no fixed contract, and the vendors did not know where they were. He asserted that the conditions at the Milk Depot were a disgrace. When he visited the milk station recently thero were dogs lying on the floor, men sitting on cans smoking cigarettes, and the like.

THE COMPANY SCHEME. The next speaker wanted to know what progress had been made in the formation of a company, as suggested by the Milk Committee.

The Chairman said he would be pleased to answer any questions. —

A vendor: "Let us know the truth. There is an element of distrust. This meeting ma.y be a very worthy one, but it is called by a section of the vendors, who, some of us believe, have been working in dark and devious ways." The Chairman then told the meeting of tho negotiations as already-outlined in The Post. It was made quite plain that all the vendors would be admitted to the company on equal lines. The four firms agreed to amalgamate and were ready to register a company as soon as they could get a satisfactory agreement. That had been impossible. "All the twisting done by tho Milk Committee iB more than wo can tell. To-day the agreement is ready for signing, but the four companies do not consider that it would be in the interests of the vendors as a whole to sign it." These remarks were endorsed by an. other speaker, who stated that the num. ber of proposed agreements had been innumerable. The latest agreement suggested was quite unworkable.

The action of the four vending firms in acting as they had done was strongly criticised. Would they have known of the proposed company had it not been for Mr. Bodley? Was it not a fact that this company had taken the map of Wellington and allocated sot areas to itself? '

The Chairman: Not to ourselves. All the vendors would have participated. "Germans in all their splendid spy system could not have been more secretive," stated an aggrieved vendor. Was it not a fact that the vendors concerned had taken the whole flat area? Was it not provided that any vendor wishing to join up should pass under the scrutiny nf the company ?

The Chairman : "Emphatically, No." He objected to a discussion on "past history." The meeting l*ad been called to consider the present position. The nest speaker said he understood that the meeting was called for the purpose of discovering whether the vendors' were satisfied or not. Since the council took charge not one day had jessed without a complaint about the milk. The meeting should also consider the increase of Id per gallon in the price.

A QUESTION OF QUALITY.

One big vendor said he was not treate& very well at the start, but he had little 'reason to complain now, except that his milk was not as good as that which he previously delivered. With the original price charged by the council (Is Id) the thing was worth fighting for. If the price was increased any further it would not be worth fighting for. They must get a settlement about price. Still another speaker heatedly protested against the pasteurising of all milk. He challenged the Milk Committee—he would put up £500—to prove that the milk was delivered twenty-four hours earlier. He would challenge the council to prove' that the milk was cleaner. "How long are we going to stand this bludgeoning? It is l'russianism con■founded. As a British subject I protest." (Hear, hear.)

In support of the last speaker it was asserted that sinctf the City Council supplied the milk the.sales had reduced, but the sale of condensed milk had increased 25 per cent. The milk supplied by the city would not keep. Voices: "Hear, hear. It will not keep."

SERIES OF ALLEGATIONS.

Other allegations were to the effect that the cans were washed in dirty water; that one can of milk supplied that day contained several lumps of butter. There seemed to be general dissatisfaction because of shortage in the supplies, lat* delivery, unsatisfactory business methods, confusion in cans, and poor quality of the cream ("I think we are all ashamed to put the cream out," eaid one speaker). The municipal concern was badly mismanaged right through. For one thing there seemed to be "more bosses than can washers." The Chairman said that when he visited tho depot, it looked like "a cow-yard on » wet day."

VENDORS TO BLAME.

A new phase was then introduced when a speaker stated that no doubt the council had had a rough time. If the vendors were dissatisfied they had themselves k> blame. (Hear, hear.) From what he knew of the matter tho vendors were getting their full deserts. A large number of vendors had signed a document sanctioning the introduction of War Regulations. A speaker : Yes, because we were told that the blocking and coupon system would be introduced, and that vendors would be conrpnrasvted.

The Chairman agreed that tho vendors were largely to blame for their present position. However, they were not there to discuss mistakes of the past.

AN INQUIEY SUGGESTED. The following motion was put to the meeting : —

"That representations be made to the 'Minister of Public Health regarding tho unsatisfactory operation of the

War Regulations dealing with the Wellington milk supply, and as to the inefficiency and unsatisfactory management and control thereof and the consequent disadvantage to the public, and the unfair results and financial loss to the vendors, and that the Minister be asked to set up a Board of Inquiry, composed of prominent and uninterested persons, to review the whole position." Tho motion was carried unanimously. The individual vendors were then asked whether they had received any complaints since the new scheme operated. With orre exception all replied in the affirmative.

Regarding the iprice of milk it was stated that tho council was not justified in increasing the price. To give full consideration to this aspect the meeting went into committee.