COUNCIL’S POLICY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19040, 13 June 1936, Page 8

COUNCIL’S POLICY

MILK FOB AUCKLAND

VINDICATION GIVEN

(TREATER POWERS ADVISED

COMMISSION’* REPORT

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night

A vindication of the Auckland .Metropolitan Milk CouneiJ’s policy, and support on nearly all points for iho increased, powers .sought by it, is given in the report, of the Executive Commission of Agriculture on its inquiry into the- city’s milk trade held in Auckland in March. The report, recommends to Parliament that the powers be granted, subject to certain safeguards. When the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Amendment’ Bill was before Parliament in 193 d certain clauses were referred to the. Executive Commission for a. report, and it. was the,so, clauses that Sir Francis Fraser, the deputychairman, Messrs. D. .Tones and (.1. A. Duncan inquired into.

The Mjlk, Council, indicated that it wished to proceed- with throe clauses. The first would give it power to resolve that; after 60 days' it had the solo right to purchase all the milk for the district supply. The second, which was described ,as an emergency clause, in .case the existing interests refused to carry - out the service at reasonable rates, would give power to engage in the purchase, collection, treatment, storage, distribution and manufacture of milk. The third clause would enable,, the council to make a special levy as security for a loan to carry out its powers.

THE CHIEF ALTERATION

The chief alteration the commission recommends is that, the right of appeal in the fixation of prices should be provided, in the form of an independent tribunal, consisting of three members, one of whom should be a stipendiary magistrate. The only* other changes in the council’s original clauses ate the limiting of the proposed levy to Id a gallon, and safeguards against tho council using its emergency powers without sufficient reason. These provide that manufacturing'should not be engaged in while existing dairy factories are willing to take all the available surplus at reasonable prices, and that treating or selling should not. be entered. on without the consent of the Minister of Agriculture.

The report declares the existing system to bo uneconomical, and considers that increased powers are necessary for tho purposes of Unoriginal Act to be-carried out. It says that iho council has done excellent, work under great difficulties, and that on a logical view Parliament must grant added powers- o£ repeal the Act. The latter’course yrould result in the evils, Ayjiicli originally, existed recurring. ’

RATIONALISATION OF INDUSTRY

Tho commission is of opinion that municipalisation of supply would be the best solution of the problem, but that the. powers sought, would remove most, of the difficulties without causing a disturbance of existing interests which munieipalisation would create. It considers the interests of 70 or 80 producer-vendors could not be placed before those of 200,000 consumers. In many eases those who suffered from the scheme could be adequately dealt, with by compensation, and those who could not, through being unsuited for other work, could be provided for by grouping their supplies. The interests of-tho consumers would not, bo affected, as they would have the choice of raw or pasteurised rnilk, and it would all be of uniform quality. To describe the rationalisation of a public utility service in the common interest, as interfering with personal rights and liberties was a misuse of language.