MILK FOR CHILDREN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21763, 31 March 1934, Page 15

MILK FOR CHILDREN

LOW PRICE IN SCHOOLS PROPOSAL BEFORE COUNCIL PROBLEM OF THE UNEMPLOYED A proposal that milk for consumption by school children should bo supplied to schools at a low cost was mad/* by Mr. (}. W. Hutchison, chairman of the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council, at a mooting of the council on Thursday. The matter was introduced by the receipt of letters from the Devonport Unen:.ployed Association and a resident of Kcihimarama, protesting against the recent increase in the price of milk on the ground that hardship was being caused to many people, especially children. Mr. Hutchison said the couucil had received a number of such letters. He had obtained information from two sources regarding the prices of milk during the past seven years, and had found, that the present charges compared favourably with former rates. From September, 1927, to January, 1928, both bottled and loose delivery milk was sold at 6d a quart. The prico was then raised to 7d, and fluctuated between 6d and 7d until April, 1931, when 5Jd was charged for bottled milk and od for loose. Then came the milk "war," charges dropping in March. 1933, to 4d for bottled milk and 3d for loose.. The prico was subsequently increased to 4sd and 4d, and on March 17 last the present scale of s£d for bottl'fd milk and 3d for loofc was introduced. "The cut prices ruled for only 12 months," continued the chairman, "and for six years prior to the 'war' milk was not less than sd. Some people are concerned about the quantity of milk they are getting, but quantity is not everything. It is the duty of this council to ensure that milk sold at 5d is of such a quality that consumers will be getting value for their money." Regarding the suggestion that some children were obtaining insufficient milk, Mr. Hutchison said it might bo possible to make an arrangement for the supply of milk to schools at a special price, so that no child would be handicapped. It was all very well to make special concessions to the unemployed, but it was not only the unemployed who were suffering at the present time. Many people not unemployed were suffering equally as much. Mr. F. W. Stones said he was iii favour of a discount being allowed unemployed. He suggested discount coupons should be issued to registered unemployed. "The suggestion is quite a natural one to make," said the chairman, "but as one who has had a great deal of experience in the administration of unemployment funds, I am definitely of the opinion that we must get rid of social assistance for the unemployed and giro them a better wage. I tSTiik the Unemployed Association is of the same mind. The unemployed do not want, charity any longer. "What they want, is a living wage." Mr. I. J. Goldstine said he was entirely in accord with the views expressed by Mr. Hutchison. If increased concessions were given to unemployed, tradespeople, who paid rates, would be affected, and some might have to become* relief workers.

On the motion of the chairman his proposal that milk for school children should be supplied to schools at a special price was referred to the Distribution Committee of the council for a report.