MILK SUPPLIES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 77, Issue 6566, 15 September 1948, Page 6

MILK SUPPLIES

RECENT DOMINION CONFERENCE MAYOR AND CLERK REPORT ON VISIT TO WELLINGTON A repoit on their visit to Wellington was given by the town clerk and the Mayor to the Borough Council on Monday night. Mr T. H. Millar, in dealing with the conference of local body representatives relative to the milk supply of New Zealand, said that the conference, had been described as a “get together meeting” to discover any weaknesses that might exist in the milk act. The conference had been addressed by Mr H. Innes, Director of Milk Marketing, representatives of the Live Stock Division of the Department of Agriculture, the Dairy Division and the Health Department. Each dealt with the separate aspects of ’the milk supply that their respective departments were concerned with. There were between 200 and 300 representatives present and early in the discussion it became apparent that there was discord among certain local bodies. The Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council had been in existence for 14 years. The Wellington City Council had been in the milk supply business for an even longer' period, but they were exempt from the provisions of the Act. One principal thing that local milk supply authorities would have to see to was that all the necessary conditions be. placed on the licenses issued. It had been decided to form a Milk Supply Authorities’ Association. In regards Te Awamutu, it appeared as if it would be economically sound to have milk for Te Awamutu treated at Hamilton. The only thing the Borough Council would be asked to do at present would be to take charge of zoning. The Mayor (Mr Spinley) said that one of the biggest questions that would engage the attention of local milk authorities would be that of goodwill. Such was up to as high as £l2 per gallon, which the Borough Council might have to pay. The extra amount of milk required on account of the growth of the town could be taken by the milk authority on a goodwill basis. Some suppliers were alleged to be trading on their licenses. It was felt at the conference that the Auckland by-laws were more simple than those of other suggested by-laws. Subsidies to the amount of £1,000,000 were being paid for the supply of milk and he (the Mayor) just wondered what would happen if those subsidies were lifted. The clerk then read extracts from the Gazetted charges and allowances as already published in the Courier. On the motion of Cr Williams, the reports were tabled pending the receipt of copies of the Auckland bylaws. Mr Millar paid a tribute to Mr Innes, the Director of Milk Marketing, for his wonderful assistance. MILK TREATMENT PLANT The following report is of vital concern to residents of Te Awamutu in view of the fact that the milk for the town is to be treated at Hamilton: Hamilton’s future milk requirements were discussed at the first formal meeting of the directors of the Hamilton Milk Treatment Corporation in Hamilton recently. The directors representing the consumers, on the nomination of the Hamilton 'City Council, are Messrs A. J. Denz and M. M. Shaw, while Messrs E. N. Peacocke and D. R. Simcock represent the producers. Mr H. H. Innes is the Government representative. At the meeting Mr Innes was appointed chairman of directors. A number of decisions were made regarding the future operations of the corporation, involving the management of the Hamilton milk depot and the Newstead treatment plant. The Newstead plant was recently purchased from the New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Co. Ltd., by the Crown, and possession of this plant and the Hamilton depot was handed over to the corporation as from September Ist.

The corporation, it was stated, will be responsible for the proper handling, treatment and bottling of Hamilton’s milk requirements. It was established under the Hamilton Milk Treatment Corporation regulations, 1948.

The future task of the corporation will be to arrange for the erection and equipment of a modern milk treatment plan on the site already purchased by the Crown, situated at the rear of Rugby Park. This plant will have an initial capacity of 6000 gallons daily and a potential capacity of up to 10,000 gallons. Much of the plant is already on order and building plans are well advanced. These plans are to be considered in detail at an early meeting cf the .directors of the corporation. Every effort is to be made to bring the new plant into operation with the least possible delay, it was announced at the meeting.

At present Director of Milk Marketing, Wellington, Mr H. H. Innes is shortly resigning from his position so that he may become a resident of Hamilton. He will be associated with Messrs C. L. Innes and Co. Ltd.