AUCKLAND’S MILK SUPPLY

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 July 1933, Page 2

AUCKLAND’S MILK SUPPLY

MINISTERIAL WARNING. [per press association.] AUCKLAND, July 17. Declaring that the Government would not stand by and allow the small farmers around Auckland to face ruination which the ruling prices for milk in the city would produce, the Acting Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Cobbe) to-day appealed to a conference of the interested’ parties to sink their differences and make a fair, binding, lasting agreement. H esaid that the Government was greatly concerned by the Auckland milk problem, but it was not anxious to legislate, as men of business ought to be able to handle the concern themselves without the Government’s intervention. None of the distributors or producers seemed to be making a fortune at present. It had been suggested that one concern was trying to obtain control of the distribution. No Government liked* anything tending to monopolistic control .of an industry, particularly one dealing w r ith foodstuffs, nor did th e Government stand for excessive prices being paid by the consumers.

Mr Cobbe added: “Although the Government is not anxious to legislate, I would like to be clearly understood. The Government is actively engaged in bringing about a settlement of small holdings, therefore it cannot stand idly by and allow small farmers who are already on the land to be ruined. It cannot ’do that. Moreover, it will not do it. The public would not stand for it. We would’ be kicked out, as we would deserve to be.” Mr Cobbe said he understood that milk in Auckland was being taken from farmers at 2ftd to 3d a gallon, whereas the Wellington farmers were receiving 1/1L The present prices were absurd. The conference is proceeding.