MILK DELIVERY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23417, 5 August 1939, Page 18

MILK DELIVERY

CASE FOR ZONING COUNCIL REJECTS MOTION CONSOLIDATION SYSTEM A COMMITTEE INVESTIGATION The question of zoning as against the consolidation of delivery rounds was discussed at a meeting of the Auckland -Metropolitan Milk Council yesterday. Mr. J. Ha slam, a vendors' representative, moved, and Mr. C. Lovegrove, a producers' representative, seconded, that- the resolution of November 21, 1938, bringing into effect the scheme of voluntary consolidation should be rescinded and tbat a scheme of zoning should be substituted as from September 30 next, the council adopting as zones the blocks set out in, the consolidation plan No. 1. Consolidation, said Mr. Haslam, had been a complete failure. Miss Melville asked-if the zoning system were adopted for tho city area thovendors would accept the North Shore price, which under zoning was 2d less, than in tho city. True Economy Mr. Lovegrove said he had long been of opinion that zoning was the remedy for -many difficulties. There had been no objection to zoning on the North Shore. Consolidation was merely a stop toward it. He referred to tho question of producers'} and distributors' costs and their relation to the price tho council must fix for milk. If prices,' to producers were not to be increased, rapidly rising costs would liavp to ho offset by economies in" distribution, and they could be achieved only by zoning. True zoning would make for true economy. The chairman, Mr. 1. J. Goldstine, denied that consolidation had been-a failure." Under it 3000 customers, representing a trade of 640 gallons, had been transferred from one vendor to another with practically no complaint. Indeed, there had been no definite complaints—merelv three cr four inquiries. Great Possibilities The mileage saved to vendors by these transfers amounted to 207 miles a day. With.'.such a substantial saving effected in the initial stages of the scheme, its great possibilities, were obvious. In tho case of one firm the result had been the dispensing of one horse float, which cost £8 a wqek. Mr. Goldstine suggested that Mr. Haslam' 8 motion was tho result of a decision by the Vendors' Association, as president of which he was bound to move. It was not an opportune time to make any change in policy. Distribution changes had to be made in stages, one of tho outstanding reasons being that milk, while up to standard, varied greatly, and. consumers should not be compelled to take milk from John Brown if they preferred to deal with John Smith. Universal Bottling Mr. A. S. Bailey said that zoning could not be enforced until all milk was delivered in bottles. Only by that system could there be 100 per cent efficiency. In the handling ftf loose milk and many other foodstuffs New Zealand was far behind many other countries. Mr. H. F. W. Meikle remarked that consumers' preferences in the matter of supply were largely influenced by the colour of milk. When there was uniformity in colour they would be able to advance to the ultimate aim, which was zoning. "It must ho taken in stages," said Mr. H. P. Burton. "In voting against the motion I will serve the interests of both vendors and consumers." Wellington Quoted Mr. R. H. Ockleston said he would support zoning if and when there was standardisation. He quoted the Wellington system as an example of how both producers and consumers could be served by it. Miss Melville said there were great variations in the quality of milk, but she indicated her opposition to universal bottling if it meant universal pasteurisation. The motion was lost, only- the mover, the-seconder and Mr. Ockleston voting for it. The chairman' then moved that r committee;'" consisting of Messrs. Lovegrove. Haslam and R. B. Stonex, be set up to confer with all interests and investigate tho whole in the hope of reaching unanimity. Then the council could go to Parliament with a scheme satisfactory to all interests. This was seconded by Miss Melville, at whose instigation a clause was,added to the effect that the committee should submit an order of reference before it made its investigation, and carried. QUESTION OF PRICES APPROACHING FIXATION RETURNS OF COSTS WANTED SURPLUSES IN THE POOLS It will bo necessary for the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council to fix prices for the year by the middle of September. To aid it in its decision producers and distributors have, as usual,, heon asked to submit returns of their costs. It was reported at yesterday's mooting that 114 returns of production costs had been received out of a possible 354, 22 out of a possible 147 from von-; dors; and four out of five in regard to milk treatment. _ It waV decided to. issue another /request, tho time allowed, being 14" days. ' • ' . .', • Mr. H. P. Burton asked if the returns received wore sufficiently representative to enable the council to proceed with the fixation of prices. Deporting to tho council on present supplies," tho technical adviser said thcro had been a steady increase in the production of milk from ■ licensed sources, with the result that only 2100 gallons was now being brought in from outside factories. Supplies from tho Waitakaruru factory had ceased on July 21, and from the, Waitoa factoryoil July 24, It was considered tliat|it would be possible to reduce the quah-> tity of "accommodation" milk Coming; into the town trade from 2100 gallons to 1400 gallons at the end of this week. ■ During the meeting some objection to tho-licensing of new suppliers was raised, the reason being that when tho flush of tho season enmo, the pools operated by various firms would have so largo a surplus "that their pay-out would ho reduced. In connection with securing a report from tho technical adviser, Mr. H. P. Burton remarked cynically that he supposed' that tho officer would hayo to deal with an act of God such as a dry. spell when milk supplies fell away. The constant concern of the producers' representatives on thd council is to limit pool surpluses at the period of high production*