MILK DELIVERY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16150, 2 March 1918, Page 8

MILK DELIVERY.

THE BLOCK SYSTEM

MEETING OF OPPONENTS. A meeting of dairymon opposed to tha block system of milk delivery was held last night in tho Trades Hall, Mr F. W. Trotter presiding over an attendanco ov twenty. The chairman explained that the meeting had been called bccause, during tho past few days, the dairymen had received an invitation from tho City Council to send representatives of those in favour of and these adverse to tho block system to moot tho Markets Committee on Monday night. The meeting was for tho purpose of ascertaining tho views of the opponents of tho systom. Personally, ho opposed the system, which, he contended, would create a monopoly and stifle competition. He had invited Cr. Loasby to attend, and called upon him to speak. Cr. Loasby said that the Christchureh .Dairymen's Association had been invited by the City Council to send representatives to meet the Markets Committee. and it had boon agreed to lot two representatives of the opponents of tlft systom meet the committee. He thought there should be a referendum of the people taken before tho system, as outlined in the Bill, was put into operation. "And if a referendum -were taken," continued the speaker, "I feel certain that tho proposal would bo ignominiouslv defeated." He would oppos» it so long as he bad a voico to do so in tho Council. To his mind one of tho sharp points of the Dairymen's Association was their proposal undor tho system that shops retailing milk and carrying on a dairy business should do so exclusively. A heated dispute took placo at this stage between ono or two of the audience and the speaker concerning a statement by the last-mentionod that tho price of milk before the -war was Is per gallon, he having alleged that at present tho price of milk was ridiculously high.

Eventually the discussion was ruled cut of order. The chairman affirmod that the Dairymen's Association had decided to appoint four representatives to meet tho Markets Committee.

Cr. Loasby then said that it was for the meeting to appoint four representatives of the opposition. Tho chairman said that from his recent experience he felt suro that there wero SO per cent, of ' the milkmen against.the block system. He alleged that it would create protection for incompetent or careless milkmen. Mr A. P. Craig expressed the view that many supporters of tho block system were such becauso they thought, having in viow the calling up of the Second Division, that if thoy got a block they would be considered essential to the industry. He favoured the municipalisation of the supply, feeling that ho would soonor give to the City Council than to tho wholesaler, as would happen under the. block system. The chairman then nskkod those in favour of tho block system to hold up their hands.

One hand wont up. All, or nearly all of the others present signified that they were opposed to the system. The chairman said ho understood that Messrs R.' Morcer, sen., H. Bliss, J. _ Parish, and W. Baty, had been appointed to sunnort the system before the Markets Committee.

Messrs.J. Erickson. A. P. Craig, AR. Mercer, jun., and F. W. Trotter wore appointed representatives of the opposition to the system to meet the committee.

Mr Craig protested against the action of the Dairymen's Association in failing to consult the dairymen in general before appointing representatives of those favouring the" system. Ho further protested against the manner in which the Association's business concerning the system had been carried on; practically, he said, behind closed cloors. Ho moved that a Retailers' Association be formed.

Mr Soloman seconded the motion. Tho secretary of the Dairymen's Association, Mr G. P. Dodds, questioned whether it was in order to more such a motion without duo notice havincj been given. The meeting had boen advortised as one concerning tho block system. c ,. The chairman su Rested that n meeting should he held in the future for the nurpose of forming a Retailers' Association.

It. was, however, decided to proceed v-ith the m-iftor, and a committee, cenpJs+ing of Mersrs A. P. Craig, W Baty. F. W Trotter, and A. R. Mercer. jun.. was appointed to take the matter in hand.

At the close of the moetinr a number of signatures wr>re a lieruWl nR follows: "Wo, the iindf>rsif»nof] dfirymcn. do strongly onpneo the bWk svs+«>m. it- not beirvr ?n -tlie intorestc nf the dairvmcn and the general public."