MUNICIPAL MILK

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 64, 17 March 1933, Page 9

MUNICIPAL MILK

AN AUCKLAND, MOVE

ON WELLINGTON LINES'

Proposals in the direction of muni : cipal milk supplies for Auckland on tho lines of tho Wellington undertaking were submitted to the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, by a deputation representing Labour organisations, including the Milk. Roundsmen's Union (reports tho "Herald"). The deputation, introduced by Mr. W. E. Parry, M.P., asked the Mayor to call, a conference of local bodies to consider whether Parliament should be asked to pass legislation permitting local bodies in Auckland to undertake tho distribution and sale of milk. Mr. Hutchison expressed doubts concerning the proposal, but undertook to ask tho City Council to inquire into the present state of the milk trade. Mr. J. Purtell, secretary of tho union, said present conditions were unsatisfactory. Whatever its result, the present milk "war" could not benefit the public in,the long run. The .Arbitration Court award for milk roundsmen was being evaded, and a body of employers who were prepared to abide by it were being forced out of business. His union held that a municipal supply, su«h as had proved successful in Wellington, was tho only satisfactory remedy.

Dr. E. J. Cronin, who was present to represent the views of tho Auckland division of the British Medical Association, said, tho Health Department's analyses showed tho milk supplied in Auckland to bo relatively clean and safe. The average fat content was well above legal requirements, and the diseases spread by milk were of rare occurrence in the city. :

The Mayor, in reply, said that more than a year ago he had attended a conference at which a system of municipal control was discussed. He had since obtained full information ' concerning the Wellington City Council's milk supply undertaking, which involved a much larger amount of capital than the ratepayers of Auckland could possibly be induced to invest at the present time.

It was admitted by the deputation that tho present supply was more than, sufficient for the needs of the community, and that analyses did not indicate any danger to public health. The difficulties confronting tho trade were purely economic, and ho was afraid it would have to work out its own destiny.^ However, he felt that the City Council would bo quite justified in inquiring into the position, and he intended to recommend that this should be done> although he could not bind the new council that would take office in a few weeks' time. Itj had been reported that twenty-six roundsmen had been delivering milk in one street. Such a state of affairs was ridiculous-, and those in the trade should get together and see what could be done to remedy it.