THE CITY'S MILK.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1239, 22 September 1911, Page 5

THE CITY'S MILK.

PRIVATE AND MUNICIPAL DEPOTS. VENDORS' PROTESTS. "HATEFUL INTERFERENCE." When tho Wellington City Milk Supply Dill was before Parliament last session a clauso was inserted, in tho Lower House, at the instigation of Mr. A. L. Hcrdmaii, M.P., providing that nothing in the Bill should interfere with tho business of firms already established, and being coiv ducted to Che satisfaction of tho Minister for Public Health. This was intended to safeguard the interests of firms which' were provided with tlio necessary equipment to exempt them from tho provisions of tho Bill requiring • all milk to bo handled through a central city depot. Tho clnnso in question was deleted in tho Upper House, and the Bill, as amended, passed tho Lower House. Tho effect of tho Act now is that those firins which havo at-large expoase established on their own premises cold storage equipment ou tho lines of tho proposed central milk .depot, will have no further use for their plant, as they will be required to handle their milk through tho municipal depot. Ci.ty Council Interviewed. Considerable dissatisfaction has arisen over tho deletion of (lie clauso referred to, and at tho City Council meeting last evening a deputation, headed by Mr. Jns. M'Lellan, chairman of tho Frcsk Food and Ice Company, Ltd., urged tho insertion of a similar clause in tho Wellington City Empowering Bill—a wash-ing-up Bill—now before the House. Mr. M'Lulla-u said that nobodv had boen more Biirprifod than tho milk-vendors, than tho members of tho House ' even— for tko Bills were being rushed through at tho , rate ot sixteen a- minute—when the Bill passed into the Statuto Book minus tho clauso. He pointed out that certain of tho city firms had be«n at groat expense—JC3o,ooo in on« case —in erecting premises and providing tho necessary equipment for the running of milk supply depots, and if all this expenditure was to go for nothing at all, it would be, at tho very least, very harsh. They were perfeotly willing to have their depots inspected by tho health officers— they welcomed such inspection—and if they were prepared to conduct their depot business on the lines required by the health authorities, why (mould,. Uicy be obliged to close up these- depots, dispense with their staffs, and get their supplies through tho municipal depot? It was* a case of live and let live, ho said. The Acting-Mayor informed.the deputation that its representations would bo referred to the Committee on Public Health. Mr. M'Lellan, in conclusion, said.that the matter wae really urgent, as tho Empowering Bill might come up at any trmo now. The Acting-Mayor assured tho deputation that tho matter would bo considered without delay. '. A Nullifying Clause. The deputation then withdrew. Sub. sequeutly tho question came up for discussion on a motion by Councillor Frost that tho representations of tho deputa>n bo given effect to. Councillor Dr. Cameron secouded tho motion. Councillor Fletcher strongly protested. If this wore done, and tho clause inserted as requested, it would alter, it would absolutely nullify, in fact, tho purpose of tho city's milk supply legislation. Tho clauso which was deleted from the Bill last year read that "nothing in this: Act contained should affect any company or raon carrying on ' business as distributors and sellers of milk at the timo of tho passing of this Act." That was to say, these, firms would bo outside the ■M; altogether. In the absence of Councillor Shirtcliffo (chairman of thbJßublio Health Committee), and of tho Mayor, he thought that tho council should pauso ito consider the conswjuencos ofjany ac- ' t it might decide'upon in tlrhfmattor. Councillor' Barber supported the previous epoaker. "Tommy-Rot—Absolute Rot." Councillor Fuller supported the motion, .heatedly protested against "this hateful and confounded interfering with private enterprise," and roundly scolded the councillor for what ho stigmatised as "slapdash methods" of conducting tho city's business. To hear the remarks of somo people, one would imagine that Ihe milk-sellers of this city wero 'a lot o£ dirty rascals." He did not think so. Ho declared emphatically that tho city's milk supply was good—they wero getting puro milk—and there was no' necessity for this interference, this obnoxious Milk Bill. "It's tommy-rot-absolute rot!" ho doCouncillor Fitzgerald remarked that Councillor Fuller appeared to be very fit and well and in good fighting trim after his fortnight's holiday down south. _ Councillor Fuller: I object to being misrepresented in this way. I was away on duty—hard work, sir!" "Well," conceded Couucillor Fitzgerald, "after his fortnight's spoil of hard work down south." lie strongly objected to anything being done that would hayo tho effect of destroying what tho council had ' laboured consistently to evolve—a, pure milk supply for Wellington. ■ Councillor Trevor said that he had been, against tho Bill all through. So far as ho could recollect tho council had never properly discussed tho Milk Supply Bill. Ho moved as an amendment that tho representations of the deputation bo referred to tho Public Health Committeo for report. Councillor M'Konao said that it appeared to him that if tho city's milk wore concentrated in a municipal depot tho supply and delivery would be totally disorganised. He considered that tlio present system of license and inspection provided ample safeguards for tho publicinterest. "Moro Piffle." Councillor Frost said that all this talk: about nullifying tho principle of tho Bill was mere piffle. Councillor Fletcher had - read part of the clause only. Ho (the speaker) would read tho whole of the clause, as follows:— "Nothing in this Act contained slfidl affect any company or person carrying on business as distributors and sellers of' milk at tho time of the passing of (his Act whose premises 'are declared suitaWo for tho purpose by the Minister for Publie Health." Was tho last part of the clause, he , asked, not sufficient protection for the ' public P After further discussion, Councillor Trevorls amendment was carried.