ZONING OF MILK DELIVERIES

Southland Times, Issue 24174, 10 July 1940, Page 6

ZONING OF MILK DELIVERIES

Scheme For Saving Petrol MILKMEN SEEK AID OF COUNCIL A request that to facilitate the carrying out of the wishes of the fuel controller and conserve petrol in their deliveries some protection in the issue and control of licences be given to members of the Invercargill and suburban Milkmen’s Association was made by a deputation from the association at the meeting of the Invercargill City Council last night. The deputation asked, among other things, that the council consider issuing no new milk licences and that zoning be arranged so that consumers in all areas would have the choice of three or four milkmen. Mr J. L. Sutton, secretary of the association, said the association, sought the assistance of the council in its effort to conserve petrol. It was necessary to have authority to adopt a scheme of zoning as it would be impossible to carry it out successfully without some form of control. A member of the deputation said that he thought some good purpose would be achieved if the town was zoned not only as a war-time measure, but indefinitely. The need for protection was apparent, however. The consumer would still have a choice of milkmen. The Deputy Mayor (Mr J. R. Martin) pointed out that if no new licences were issued for some years an undesirable monopoly might be created. In reply a member of the deputation stated that there were more licences than were necessary at the present time. Many vendors made the selling of milk a side-line and operated only in the summer. Mr Sutton said that if zoning was put into effect it was possible that a saving of from 50 per cent, to 75 per cent, of petrol would be effected. Mr R. Bleakly, city health inspector, said the council first would have to ascertain its powers under the by-laws. The consumer should not be exploited. It would be possible to divide the city into areas and put several milkmen in each area. The customer was entitled to a choice of milkmen. After discussing the matter in committee the council decided to inform the deputation that it favoured the principle of zoning in an effort to conserve petrol; and that the matter be referred to the Works Committee for consideration and report, the town clerk meanwhile to make inquiries about the council’s powers in the matter.