CITY MILK SUPPLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21615, 6 October 1933, Page 12

CITY MILK SUPPLY

PROPOSED COUNCIL DRAFTING OF THE BILL PRELIMINARY STEPS ; TAKEN Arrangements for the drafting of the bill by which it is proposed to set. up a milk council for tho control oi the milk trade in the metropolitan area wcro made by the City Council last evening. Tho council decided on this course at the request of tho Minister of Industries and Commerce, tho Hon. J. G. Cobbe. The council was asked by tho Minister to arrange for the. drafting of , a bill which would make tho necessary provision and also to arrange for tho consideration of tho draft bill by a conference in Auckland of tho interested parties. The Minister said he presumed the milk council would work through a process of licci ing vendors as to areas and quantities, hut it would not appear to be necessary to licence producers as such sinco they wcio already subject to a licensing system controlled by the Department of Agiiculture. Some detailed provision icquircd to bo made to carry out tho proposal for tho equitablo collection of tho necessary finance, which would presumably bo levied upon tho gallonage distributed in the metropolitan area. Question of Prices In view of tho difficulties which had arisen as a result of price competition, it was assumed that tho bill.would contain an arrangement to allow tho proposed council to exercise an influence over prices and other conditions under which distributors would carry on thoir businesses. It was not, of course, contemplated that the milk council would itself in any way be concerned in actual trading operations. Tho Minister expressed tho hopo that tho Citv Council would bo able to arrange for tho drafting of tho bill and .for its consideration by a conference at a reasonable early date so that it might 'bo available for submission to Parliament. within tho next few weeks. Tho Milk Committee of tho council recommended tjiat, provided tho Government was prepared to bear the cost, tho city solicitor be instructed to proceed with the preparation of the bill, and that after obtaining the necessary evidence from tho interested parties tho draft bill be submitted to a conference of local bodies and others concerned for consideration. This was adopted.

Offer by Firms A communication was received from Amburys, Limited, Stoncx Brothers and tho Auckland Milk Company, Limited, undertaking jointly and severally to indemnify the council up to a maximum of £2OO against any loss that might arise from its notion in instructing tho city solicitor to prepare legislation for the setting up of the proposed Metropolitan Milk Council to regidato and control tho milk trade in Auckland. It was to be understood that tbeso preliminary expenses wero to bo borne by the milk council upon tho legislation being passed, but tho indemnity was offered in tho event of the council not being established. The Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, moved that the firms bo thanked for their offer and that tho information lie forwarded to tho Minister. An amendment was moved by Mr. J. L. Coaklcy that the letter bo received a;s ho objected to the council being guaranteed in this way by private firms when carrying on its functions in tho interests of the public. The Mayor explained that the Government had asked the council to have tho bill drafted. Tho council had asked the Minister whether tho Government would boar the cost so that if tho milk council was not sot up the City Council would not be loft to mCet ; tho cost. This point had- been communicated to the milk people, who had now made their offer. Ho therefore suggested that the offer should bo referred to the Minister. Tho Mayor's suggestion was adopted,