MILK BILL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 133, 2 December 1944, Page 9

MILK BILL

MiWY; .AMENDMENTS

A CENTRAL COUNCIL

The Milk Bill was reported back to so=* House of Representatives yesterday with numerous amendments. included in the amendments is provisM>n for the setting up of a central mnlc council. As reported back the measure is practically a new Bill. ~ M£- W- T. Anderton, chairman of the Milk Bill Committee, reported that the committee had heard evidence on and had carefully considered the Bill and recommended that it be allowed to proceed with amendments. He moved that the. report lie on the table. The central milk council which is proposed consists, of the Minister of Health, tne Director of Milk Marketing, one person to be selected from a panel of not less than three persons nominated by the Municipal Association of New Zealand and appointed on the recommendation of the Minister of Health two persons, one from the bouth Island and one from the North Island, nominated by some organisation or organisations of persons engaged in the production of milk for human consumption and appointed on the recommendation, of the- Minister of Agriculture, and two other persons, one to be a woman deemed to be a representative of the interests of women and children, these two to be appointed on the recommendation of the Minister of Health. . " } The Minister of Agriculture may request such organisation or organisations of persons engaged in milk production to nominate such number of persons as he may specify to enable him to determine who shall be recbm'mended as representatives of the North and South Islands. The Minister of Health will be the chairman of the council, and members apart from the Minister and .Director of Milk Marketing, will be'appointed tor three years. Fees or allowances and travelling expenses are to be paid to members of the council. \ OBJECTS OF COUNCIL. General objects/ of the council' include die provision of an adequate supply of milk of good quality, and the organisation of the production, treatment, and distribution of rhilk on an economic basis having regard to the need.for .an. adequate supply of milk Functions of the council will also in-' £?• « ?esea^ and investigation relating to milk and milir-products, th* promotion of improved methods of producing and handling milk (including the distribution of°milk in sea£d containers). The council is also em .powered to make recommendations To S^l?T ent regarding milk districts ana also as to standards of milk and to guide and supervise the activities pf + milk .authorities. Authority s given to the council to "direct a ma? piant° rity t0 °Perate a ;^urlsa«on hl 0 1 the.,,adeciaac y of ste Ps taken bj local milk authorities in carrvin" out its functions and as to the mS S^ri l hat- ma *' paid for the gooa \vill of businesses of milk yen- ?£ S\Jt isjinHs between milk authorities and producers and vendors may ment ° the COimcil for settle"' ritt2 e£ con? ult.f ion with milk authorities the council may fix the maximum amounts.to,be paid for the good™ of businesses. Public notice is to be given of the determination of good will and after' that notice anyone ing or buying the good will of a venfcl a ?•"£? in. excess of the amount fixed is liable to a fine of £20 or twice the amount of the excess, whichever is the greater. .-The councilis empowered to appoint technical committees for investigating and,-reporting on- any matters ~rela£ ing to tne council's objects. The Milk Marketing Division is charged with the administration of the Act -Two clauses, relating to unearned margins and their application are deleted. ■ ■ . , -:■;V ; MILK PRODUCERS. .^clause. on;.the; Bill as originally ,dr.afted Giealmgbwiih -organisation of milk producers is deleted and replaced .by. a clause providing for the apnroval* by . the central milk ~ council of producers associations and supply associations. ' Where the council is satistoed that where, only one association of milk producers is approved for a district and that, that association can supply all the .milk for tlfe district then t the council shall approve that fm °th la Jr n * ?3 + th- e I7 .suPPly association for the district. vVnere more than one association of milk producers is approved for a district and the council is satisfied, those associations together can supply.the district; then the council may direct .those associations to £ rm J 1 committee of supply which shall be approved as the supply association for the district. There «=ball not be more than one supply' association, for -*any district • ■ _Mr. P., G. "Connolly (Government. Dunedm Wesc)- reported on -behalf of the Milk Bill ..Committee that at the final meeting yesterday the Committee unanimously;-passed a resolution thanking the chairman (Mr. Anderton) for his services during the hearing and expressing 'appreciation of his firmness fairness, and tact'in the. conduct Cornrpmee^s business.