CONSUMERS’ VIEW

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 198, 22 August 1945, Page 4

CONSUMERS’ VIEW

CITY MILK QUESTION

DIRECT DELIVERY SOUGHT DEPUTATION TO COUNCIL An amendment to the Milk Act, which would enable consumers to have the right of milk direct from the farm, instead of passing through a central treating house, was sought by a deputation from the Milk Consumers' Committee, which waited on the Wanganui City Council at a special meeting last night. Speakers held that the present, system was not satisfactory, and that it would remain such as long as the Act was administered in its entirety. The subject was fully debated, but no motion was put to the council. An assurance was given, however, that the council was concerned mainly with the interests of consumers.

The Mayor, Hon, W. J, Rogers, said at the outset that because of illness, Mr. A. Blake, investigation officer of the Milk Marketing Division, was unable to arrive at Wanganui the previous day but he was expected later. Introducing the deputation, Mr. E. A. Watkins said the committee had ■been set up because it was felt that the consumers should be represented by some body which would speak for them regarding the milk question. “We have gone very fully into this, and we feel that raw milk cannot he obtained, as we want it. under ihe present Milk Act," Mr. Watkins said. “We. therefore, ask that the Act be amended." Mr. Walkins commented also I hat most people were opposed to pasteurised milk and objected io their supplies being mixed at the central treating house. Except for those who wanted pasteurised milk, the treating house was a hindrance to the best milk being obtained in the best, way. The committee also asked that the treating house be eliminated and that compensation he paid. Mrs. Beaumont Bates said she w.-.s also present in her capacity as president of the National Council of Women. The present milk position was causing women more than concern. It was a real "heartache.” The milk question touched the very core of women's interests—the welfare of children. Mrs. Bates quoted cases of milk delivered in Wanganui being unsatisfactory. The welfare of men returning from overseas in poor health, and whose diet, must be watched, was also worthy of every consideration. She believed that so long as the Act was adhered to in its entirety the position would remain unsatisfactory. There must, be too much delay in the time the milk reached the consumer, and 100 much handling. The speaker emphasised that the Consumers’ Committee was entirely non-political and was not concerned about who had introduced the Milk Act. It was felt, however, that some slight, amendment to the Act would remedy the trouble. QUESTION OF POLICY

Dr. Ulric Williams thanked the Mayor lor receiving the deputation ana added that the committee appreciated tlie way the council had handled the situation up to the present time. There would be immense simplification of the problem if the council confined itself in this matter to policy and left the method of carrying out this policy to experts. Most people wanted their milk direct from the farm and this was the policy that the council should adopt. “We as the taxpayers provide the wherewithal with whicii the experts carry out a policy and there should be some small delegation to whom the delegates should be required to report,” Dr. Williams added. The people should have a say in laying down a policy on a matter that vitally concerned them, such as the supply of milk. The Mayor subsequently reviewed the milk position in Wanganui. It was common knowledge, he said, that there had been much "coming and going" in the city over this issue. The Milk Act was passed after the Government had received submissions made by a commission set up for that purpose. When the local arrangements were first made, however, ihe City ■ Council was not consulted, a point had been made perfectly clear by departmental officers. Subsequently the council decided to become the Milk Authority and every opportunity had been given for the fullest discussions on this question. Il had been debated at several meetings, and at its ordinary meeting last week the council passed a resolution supporting a referendum put to the people by the Wanganui Electors’ Association and asking that the Act be amended so that the milk would come direel. from the farm gate to the consumer. The council had been assured, however, that it would not be asKed to take over responsibility as the Milk Authority till the position was satisfactory. So far the City Council had nut taken over the administration of ihe Act locally, and there was much piemature judgment as to what would happen, said Cr. S. J. Harris. Much objection seemed to be toward tne principle of a treating house, but nobody could say what. the council would would do when it. took over. So far as the referendum was concerned. the true position was not advanced. Had all the facts been put it was a question of whether a majority of the people would have supported the referendum.

Mr. R. O. C. Marks said the verdict given by the people of Wanganui was the “voice of the people." “In the voting paper we tried to give, honestly, arguments, for and against the scheme, but it was impossible to find many arguments in favour of it," Mr. Marks added. “We have searched for more arguments in favour of the scheme, but we can’t find any.” The Electors’ Association had stirred up interest in this matter, but previously the people had been “left in the dark” by departmental officers. Cr. R. P. Andrews said one voting paper, signed bv a man and his wife, had been picked up in the street. No matter how well intentioned the Electors’ Association may be it was possible for abuses to creep in. RECENT IMPROVEMENT.

The milk situation had improved considerably of late, Cr. Andrews added, and in a few weeks the supply would be even more satisfactory. With tiie city engineer, Mr. L. F. Row, watching the position closely the council was virtually in charge. "Before this business came up, Wanganui had the finest milk in New Zealand." said Cr. J. F. Broad. "There had never been any complaint till recently." He added that bottled milk was not tool-proof. Only recently a piece oi confetti was found in a bottle of milk i Replying (<■ Cr. Andrews. Mr. Marks said that so far as the referendum papers were concerned irregularities may croep in, but unless there was a large majority, the association did not represent this as the will of Ihe people. Cr. Merewether commented that the Wanganui Hospital drew its supplies of milk direct from the farm. Other people, he added, should have the same privilege. "If the Act could be amended so that all the people could have this, I believe tlie milk problem would lie solved in all parts of New Zealand,” said Cr. Merewether.

Cr S. I. Smith commented that ihe resolution carried by tlie council at ils meeting last week was contrary to a previous one asking Mr. Blake to come to Wanganui. "We would he wise to wait till Mr. Blake comes to

Wanganui and goes thoroughly into this,” Cr. Smith added. Cr. A. R. Donaldson: There can be no doubt, referendum or not, that the citizens of Wanganui resent the milk that has been dished out to them. He added that there was nothing in the Act about Hie City Council requiring a treating house. Cr. W. S. N. Rennie said it appeared that there was ample scope for amendments to the Act. He felt that the discussion at this meeting would be Helpful to the council when deciding what should be done in the future. Tlie present system of distributing milk was more hygienic and satisfactory to ihe consumer, said Cr. J. C. Batt. Frequent tests were taken at the treating house and there was a check on the source of supply. Mr. Watkins assured the" Mayor that the City Council had not come under criticism in this matter.

The Mayor said that representations regarding amendments to the Act had already been made to Mr. J. B. Cotterili, M.P.