AUCKLAND MILK SUPPLY

Southland Times, Issue 22915, 13 June 1936, Page 6

AUCKLAND MILK SUPPLY

COUNCIL VINDICATED INCREASED POWERS RECOMMENDED (United Press Association.) Auckland, June 12. Vindication of the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council’s policy, and support on nearly all the points _ for 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 saiethe Auckland Metropolitan Milk Amendment Bill was before Parliament in 1935, certain clauses were deferred and referred to the Executive Commission of Agriculture for report, and it was these clauses that Sir Francis Frazer, deputy-chairman, Mr D. Jones and Mr G. A. Duncan inquired into. The council indicated that it wished to proceed with three clauses, the first would give it power to resolve that, after 60 days it had the sole right to purchase all milk for district supply. The second, which was described as an emergency clause, in case existing interests refused to carry out the sexvices 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. Right of Appeal. The chief alteration the Commission recommends is that 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 are the limiting of the proposed levy to Jd a gallon and safeguards against the council using its emergency powers | without sufficient reason. These powers provide that manufacturing should not be engaged in while the 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 that the existing system is to be uneconomic, and con- [ siders that increased powers are necessary for the purposes of the original Act to be carried out. It says that the council has done excellent work under great difficulties, and that, on a logical view, Parliament must grant added powers or repeal the Act. The latter course would result in the evils which originally existed recurring. The commission is of the opinion that the control of the supply by the municipality 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 such a step would create. Interests Of Consumers. It considers that the interests of 70 or 80 producer-vendors could not be placed before those of 200,000 consumers. In many cases 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 the consumer would not be affected, as they would have ; choice of raw or pasteurized milk, and it would all be of uniform quality. To describe rationalization of a public utility service in the common interest as interfering with personal rights and liberties was a misuse of language.