Hutt Valley Milk Supply

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 19, 9 October 1946, Page 7

Hutt Valley Milk Supply

The Hutt Valley and Bays Metropolitan Milk Board is seriously concerned with the delay in obtaining the necessary permit for the importation of plant to enable milk to be bottled within the Board’s district for prompt delivery. The Board has endeavoured over a period of many months to obtain a decision from the Central Milk Council so that the order might be placed for the plant overseas in time to enable the pliant to be installed in the district. in time for the coming summer. Differences have arisen between the Board and the Central Milk Council as to the functions of the Board and whether the Board w'ould be allowed by the Council to permit tlie establishment of a treating and bottling plant in the district. The Central Milk Council had given serious consideration to the supply of milk from the Wellington City Council’s plant, out the Board’s difficulty in this respect was that this would eliminate all possibility of a supply of fresh bottled raw milk,, and a large portion of the Board’s consumers desire this type of milk. The Director of the Division, however, agreed with a sub-committee specially appointed at his request by the Board, that the importation of the bottling plant was a .matter of paramount importance and that he would recommend the Central Milk Council to authorise the issue of the necessarw permit, though the question or the ultimate ownership would be left in abeyance. This arrangement was concluded in June of this year but to date no permit has been issued nor has any explanation been offered for the delay. The Board was informed on- the 18th July, 1946, that a further enquiry was being conducted by the Division on the economic implications of the various courses open, to ensure proper and adequate supplies of milk to the Board’s district. The Board was hot invited to be represented at the enquiry though it was informed that the report would be made available. This was not done until the 13th September, when a copy of the investigating accountant’s report of the 16th August was sent to the Board’s secretary.

Authority for Investigation

The Division was asked under what authority the investigation was being conducted and it was informed that the enquiry was not being carried out under the provisions of the Milk Act but was merely an investigation upon the instructions of the Council and with the authority of the Director of Milk Marketing. The investigating accountant’s report concluded by saying that it would be uneconomic to operate a plant in the Hutt Valley purely for the bottling of raw milk and that to operate to the best advantage all the milk in the Board’s district, both raw and pasteurised, should be handled ajid bottled in the same premises. If the Wellington City Council

Board Concerned at Delay in Obtaining Plant

Right of Choice Frustrated

was not prepared to bottle raw milk the only alternative was to erect a new plant in the Hutt Valley. Even if the Wellington City Council were prepared to bottle raw milk the present margin is insufficient, to enrble if to treat and bottle milk for re-sale in the Hutt Valley economically and it might be necessary for application to be made for higher margins which would mean either increased cost of milk to the consumer or higher Government subsidies, paid out of taxation. The Board has made every endeavour to obtain the necessary permit from the various Government authorities concerned to import, a battling plan' n-id get it into operation before the corning summer, but it has been met with brick-walls in every direction. The provisions of the Milk Act, though providing for the constitution of a Board to administer the Act within a-particular district, are extremely circumscribed in regard to the powers conferred on the Board, .and the Hutt Valley and Bays Board has come to the, conclusion that it is merely a machinery body set up to carry out the dictates of the Central Milk Council appointed by the Government.

The Board feels that the right of choice conferred on the people bj the Milk Act is being effectively frustrated by the indecision of the Central Milk Council. The Board, on the 9th August, 1 94 6, lodged an emphatic protest against the delay in the granting of its permit for a bottling plan and later against the setting up of a further enquiry into this matter, and is seriously concerned over the inexplicable delay which has arisen in regard to this matter. All that the Board asks is that it should be permitted to proceed with its duties under the Act and not be hampered and hamstrung by the activities of Departmental bodies who must be accused of either deliberately frustrating the Board’s efforts or of complete inability to carry out the main requirements of the Act. The Board was advised on 28th August that the Central Milk Council would finally deal with the matter on the 20th September, but at this date it has not been advised of that decision. '

The possibility of the supply of bottled raw milk in the Hutt Valley and Bays District to consumers during the coming summer is exceedingly remote and this will'no doubt be the cause of much comment by residents. The Board has received representations from organisations, particularly women’s organisations, urging the provision of a chilled bottled raw milk supply. Only one vendor in tfie district has a bottling plant and the rest of the district will continue for a further summer to have milk delivered in a bulk stare despite the efforts of the Board to ensure a hygienic and safe delivery of chilled bottled milk during the hot weather.