Correspondence

Hutt News, Volume 19, Issue 10, 8 August 1945, Page 5

Correspondence

Sir, —i regret to have to trespass on your space, but I am convinced that no more notice should be taken by the public of the activities of the Hutt Valley Milk Consumers' Society Many residents will have received the Society's\ circular dated July 27, inviting them to join the Society and pay a subscription of 2/-; and, further, stating that "the present satisfactory arrangements for the supply odjfsv i»*tsteurised imlk^ar^ s_tjj||d ojj|lbJf r ITvlties, the "milk consumers of this Valley have been provided with the alternatives of Wellington pasteurised milk or raw milk." May I say that although my name appears on the circular, as a member of the Committee, and I was a member of the Committee until I resigned a few days ago, I was not consulted rbout the circular. Evidently it was prepared and issued on the sole responsibility of the secretary, Mr. Dowse. As a member of the committee I would have protested against such a cifcular being issued, as I am sure it was intended to create, and did create, the impression that there was a danger of our supply of pasteurised milk being cut off. Such is not the case. There is no danger of the supply of pasteurised milk being cut off. Possibly, if the Government supports the Mangaroa scheme, pisteurised milk will be sup plied fvcm there, but I suggest that this is no drawback, for, I have been informed, the milk will then be one day fresher. So far as I can see, the mail* object of the Consumers' Society is to block the Mangaroa scheme regardless of the interests of the Community. As to the claim that it was the Society who secured pasteurised milk for the district, this is farfetched. Negotiations were already! in progress to obtain supplies, before the Society was started. In my view, now that the milk position is assured, there is no valid reason why the Society should not be wound up. It has become more of a nuisance than an asset.—l etc., N. P. CROFT. Sir.—l have no desire to, nor do I intend to, enter into a press controversy over the proposed formation of a Consumers' Co-operative Society in Epuni, but I am in a position to advise the President of the R.S.A. that the provisional committee, democratically set up, to explore the possibilities, does not intend to relax it»-«fforts to institute some of those ideals for which the members of his branch and other service personnel fought and died, namely— freedom of thought and speech and of the right of the small man to decide for himself his own way of life. Far from forgetting the sacrifices of the men and women of the forces, my committee# is very concerned to see that all returned servicemen have the opportunity to share in, any trading surpluses in the Epuni area.

As planned the Epuni centre provides for a total of twelve shops. >oes the R.S.A. executive submit hat twelve returned men should eap the profits of trading here, to he exclusion of all other returned ,nd homeservice personnel in the ,rea, apart from the "ordinary" itizeiis, whom we suggest are| deerving of some little consideration. In conclusion, 'Sir, may I suggest 0 the President of the R.S.A., that f his executive were to meet my sommittee and. discuss this matter rom the angle of the possible beneits to be, derived hy the whole of he citizens of Epuni including all leilvice personnel, more good may :ome of the issue than would result !rom a press controversy. H. R. LARKIN Chairman, Provisional Co-op. Committee. CO.OP. SCHEME—EPUNI Sir, —I have read, with considerable interest, the statement issued by the president of the Hutt R.S.A. regarding the above scheme for Epuni. I am a returned soldier o this conflict. Although I have not before this given the above movement the' support which it deserves, 1 feel that I am qualified to state my disgust at the statement emanating from the R.S.A. executive after it had presumably "considered'''the subject. > this is \ the manner in which the' local <B.jSvA;. ; -is] going- ttf.gf.&j&ST' for the interests of its members, then all I can say is, let some of us who have fought for democracy, or the right people to decide what they want for themselves, set about getting an association which will really guard our interests. As I see it, sir, we may all share |in a co-operative scheme and its profits if we wish, but if our excellent R.S.A. has its way, a few lucky ones are going, to get all the cream and the rest of us can go begging. Perhaps I should inform Mr. President that I have already made application for, a shop under the Rehabilitation Scheme, in the Epuni Civic Centre, but would gladly withdraw my application if I thought that, it would assist those people who are far-sighted enough to launch a scheme whereby not only I, but every citizen in the district may share the advantages. The R.S.A. statement has done some- .good where.

before it I was too apathetic to lend my weight; I will now contact this committee arid attempt to be some use to the people of our dfstrict. I say "Good luck and carry on" to the sponsors of the Co-op.—l am etc., /