THE MILK SCHEME

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 87, 9 October 1920, Page 9

THE MILK SCHEME

CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES PROPOSALS

IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS

ADJOURNMENT WITHOUT DE-

CISION.

The special report from| the Milk Committee covering the future policy of the City Council's Milk Department was discussed at a meeting of the council last night. The report was summarised in laet night's Post, but the chief recommendations may be restated as follow :

1. That the committee recommends the council to confirm its original proposal rs a board of management, and request the committee to submit names for such board.

2. That the council be askad to sanction the immediate preparation of plans for the erection- of a new station, on a site to be decided upon, to be completed, if possible, at the expiration of the vendors' term.

3. In the event of No. 2 reoommendation being carried, the council be asked to sanction the design, which will enable the whole distribution to be carried out by the department at the expiration of the vendors' term.

4. That the council be recommended to adopt the delivery in sealed glass containers, labelled with the date of filling.

5. That for the purpose of obtaining the council's decision on the advisability or otherwise of including cool storage, the chairman be asked to formally move that the council provide ir. addition to the milk station cool storage for public services. Before entering upon a discussion, Councillor Forsyth said that a few months ago the council voted a large sum of money for additions to the present station, on the understanding that the department would remain in the present building for a number of years. COUNCILLOR NORWOOD EXPLAINS. Councillor Norwood said that the main question concerned the aims and objects of the City Council in regard to the future policy of the Milk Department. What were the council's ideals? The health of the community was wrapped up in the development of the department, but there was also the commercial side, which had to be fully considered. . He first of all sfovrngly supported the proposal to establish a board, because a continuity of policy was essential. Councillors were usually chosen because of their popularity, not because of their business ability. At any election the whole members of the Milk Committee might be turned out. In any case, if two or three highly-trained commercial men could be secured for the ba&rd the council should, not hesitate to arrange for their services. There was a difference of opinion among the committee as to whether a doctor should be a member of the board. The board would be tinder the control of the council, but it should have the fullest possible powers on the commercial side of the undertaking. It might be necessary to make long contracts for the supply of milk. Under his proposal the committee would cease to exist, and the board would be responsible to the Finance Committee, and so to the council. It was conceivable that if the board succeeded in reducing the price of milk, even of a pennj% it 'would represent a profit of £3000 per year, bo the council, thus ensuring cheaper milk to the public. The proposal he made now was the same as that originally made and agreed to. He was only asking the council to confirm its previous decision.

Regarding the need for a new station, Councillor Norwood said that the council would be failing in its duty ■if it failed to make provision for the distribution of milk when the vendors' term expired. He believed that, with the Government behind the council, the work of erecting a new station could be made an essential one. There was no sound argument which could be adduced against the proposal to deliver milk in glass containers.

It was decided by the council that each of the proposals should be voted upon separately.-

Councillor W. H. Bennett, who seconded the motion, and Councillor M. F. Luckie agreed with the wisdom of the proposals. Councillor P. Fraser, M.P., supported the report with the exception of the first recommendation, He thought that if the work of the council had grown to such an a extent that councillors could not devote sufficient time to council business requiring consideration it afforded the strongest argument for the payment of city councillors. The milk supply was extra-municipal work, and he thought that the introduction of a paid board to manage it was the thin end of the wedge in the introduction of the commission system. It was a dangerous proposal, and was certainly not in accordance with the spirit of the Municipal Corporations Act of New Zealand. He concluded by congratulating Councillor Norwood on the splendid work he had already done in connection with the milk supply. Councillor Forsyth opposed the setting up of a board. If the proposal was adopted the system of board control would have to be extended to the Tramway Department. He was quite sure that a board would hamper the work of tha department. Councillor Forsyth expressed the opinion that paper containers should be used instead of glass bottle containers. He complained that the financial side was not treated in a sufficiently definite manner. A large sum of money was involved, and it was his intention to vote against the report unless it was taken back and more details given.

At this stage (6.15 o'clock) Councillor Chapmau suggested that the debate should be adjourned until next Thursday night. y

On a division the motion was carried, and the council adjourned immediately.