THE MILK PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 280, 15 August 1918, Page 6

THE MILK PROBLEM

COMMITTEE'S ULTIMATUM

THE AGREEMENT

Every vendor of milk on his own account in Wellington has received 11 very complete resume of the Milk Committee's proposal to municipalise tho industry in Wellington. In any case the City Council will assume control of all milk coining into town to be vended to the public, but they wish (he vending to bo done by those at present engaged in the business for a period of at least two years. To do so they propose two alternative schemes, viz. (1) tho formation of a company by the vendors to take over the milk from the council and distribute it as employees of the company (the shareholders which would be themselves), nnd take all profits (calculated at .212,000 por annum) for two years, less 2}- per cent, on the turnover. ' That profit is calculated, not guaranteed.

The second or alternative scheme is for the City Council, as holders of the milk, to make contracts with individual vendors to sell the milk. The block and coupon systems are to apply to both proposals.

At tho conference held on Wednesday of hist week, no definite decision was arrived at, and as some of those present admitted a difficulty in grasping the details of the proposals, the chairman of the Milk Conimittee (Councillor C. B. Norwood) stated that, it would be fully set out in circular form, and would be forwarded to every vendor, with an agreemont form, which he must sign if he wished to bo included in either of tho City Council's schemes. As stated above, that circular and agreement form reached the vendors on Tuesday or yesterday morning, and is being carefully considered by everyone who has a business to preserve. The form of agreoment reads as follows :— I agree to the proposal outlined in tho circular from the chairman of tho Milk Coramitte, dated August-32, and will agree to submit my business to form part of the general scheme and also to bo bound by the regulations necessary to bring tho schenio into operation. Then follow the direct questions.— "(1) I prefer the company system. "(2) I prefer the diroct control system.

"Please striko out the name of tho system you do not prefer." Tho above agreements (typewritten letter-cards) are to be handed or sent in lb the Town Hall not later than noon on Monday next. A circular has also been issued to vendors by the Vendors' Committee calling a meeting to be held to-morrow evening. One of the items of business is a proposal for the committee to go out of existence, leaving vendors to act as individuals in regard to the City Council's' proposal.