HOSPITAL MILK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22864, 20 October 1937, Page 16

HOSPITAL MILK

OBJECTION TO PRICE BOARD'S DISSATISFACTION COUNCIL POLICY ATTACKED APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT The failure of the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council to make a reduction in the price of milk and cream supplied to the Auckland Hospital resulted in its operations being critically surveyed at a meeting of the Hospital Hoard yesterday. It was claimed by several members that the council had done nothing except to raise the price, and a suggestion was made that the Hospital Board should establish its own dairy farm. It was reported that the chairman of the board, the Rev. W. C. Wood, and tho secretary, Mr. 11. A. Sommerville, had waited on the council with a view to obtaining a reduction in the existing prices. However, advice had since been received that the decision recently reached in regard to the prico of milk and cream for the hospital could not be altered. Value o! a Farm "By establishing its own farm tho board could obtain its full requirements at a saving of £2OOO or £3OOO a year," stated Mr. G. T. Parvin. "Instead of giving some assistance to the board, which is in one sense a charitable institution, the 'council has put one over us. They have not tho interests of the working classes at heart." Agreement with tho suggestion to establish a hospital farm was expressed by Dr. J. P. Hastings, who said the board might then be ablo to produce its requirements in milk, eggs and vegetables. "I think we should appeal to tho Government; the price of milk to-day is criminal," said Mrs. M. M. Dreaver. Mr. W. A. Bishop said that if tho board were allowed to purchase in tho opeh market it could obtain the best of milk from the. best of farms for a much cheaper rate than tho Milk Council specified, whilo Mr. W. G. Mulholland stated that tho board's contractor had affirmed that he could make a good profit on supplies to tho hospital if lower rates were allowed. Drastic Action Urged Mr. W. Wallace: I do not know of one thing that the council has done for the benefit of Auckland. Dr. E. B. Gunson: It has improved the quality of milk. Mr. Wallace: Medical men are telling us our children are getting insufficient milk, but wo are being stopped from buying it. I hope tho Government will take drastic action to bring tho Milk Council to its senses. "There is no question about tho fact that tho council is not favourably disposed toward us in any sjiape or form," said the chairman. A motion that a committee of the board should investigate tho advisability of tho hospital establishing its own farm was defeated, and it was decided to forward to the Government the correspondence which has passed between the board and tho council. It was also agreed to investigate the position with tho object of determining prices at which milk and cream could bo obtained apart from tho control of tho council.