MILK AT AUCKLAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 19 April 1934, Page 10

MILK AT AUCKLAND

INCREASE IN PRICE POSITION, OF HOSPITAL HOARD (By Telegraph— Proßß Association) AUCKLAND, 17tli April. Strong comment on the formsitiou cf the Auckland Milk Council and the prices fixed l>y that body was made at a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board, when a letter was received from the Auckland Milk Company intimating that the price of milk supplied to the board would be doubled under instructions from the Auckland Milk Council. "We have come to a stage where there is going to be no competition at all,” said the chairman of the hospital board (Mr W. Wallace). "As far as 1 can see, the alternative is for the board lo establish a dairy farm of its own. Mr Bernard Shaw was not far wide, of the mark when lie suggested that we should have free milk, which is an essential commodity. The formation of this milk council is the most scandalous piece of work that has ever been perpetrated on the people of Auckland.

The board, said Mr Wallace, was getting requests through its relief department for sustenance from families who applied for milk. There was one family in which there, were nino children, six of whom were under 15 years of age, and the milk hill for that family was 7s. One of the family was a baby four months old, and the father said : ‘lt must have milk at any cost.’ He was right. "Now the Government has established this Milk Council wo don’t know where it will lead us,” continued Mr Wallace. “We may find them wanting to establish councils to control bread, meat, fruit, and fish. If you are going to take away competition you are going to take away the very life blood of the community. If wo aro going on with legislation such as this I do not know what is going lo come of the country.” Mr G. T. Parvin said that the increase would mean an increase of £2500 a year in the board’s milk bill. He moved that the question of establishing the board’s own farm be placed in the hands of the finance committee for investigation.

"I suppose there must be some justification for flic move, but it is one of the most serious things that has ever come before the board,” said Dr. E. B. Gunson. "The medical profession has always realised that the children of this country arc not getting onough milk. I think we should make very definite comment on a development of this kind when we think of the children and the under-nourishment that will emno from such a move. Arc we under the necessity of renewing this contract? Aro wo not free to say: We will renew the contract for a short time only pending the purchase of a farm ? There arc plenty in the oiling.” "The law allows them to break the contract,” commented Mr Wallace.

‘‘The bo,yd’s contract should have to run until September. The rise in price to Is 2d’.yinms outrageous.” It was decided that the finance committee should inquire into the establishment cf a dairy farm and also into the position of the board’s contract with the Auckland Milk Company.