MILK SUPPLIES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 235, 29 June 1920, Page 5

MILK SUPPLIES

DISCRIMINATION ALLEGED ATTITUDE OF CITY COUNCIL MUNICIPAL FARM SUGGESTED _ A discussion on tho distribution of milk in tho city took place at last night's meeting of the City Council, Councillor P. Fraser, M.P., urged that the council should insist on the vendors distributing milk fairly during the shortage. At present it appeared that unfair distribution was being made. Councillor J. Glover said that the City Council was being wrongly blamed for tho trouble that was occurring in regard to the milk. Ho wanted to know whothor there was any chance of an increased supply 'being available. "There is no doubt that loud and bitter complaints are being made with reference to the distribution of milk," remarked Councillor R. A. Wright, M.P. "It is quite correct to say that the.Milk Committee of tho City Council is not to blame. : The chairman of the committee has done everything possible to try to alleviate the trouble. The only thing to do is to ventilato-lhe matter publicly, and if that fails to bring about'an improvement, then it wilt bo for the committee to tako drastic steps, even if it means putting these men out of business altogether. It looks as if some- distributors are deliberately trying to bring the control of milk by the City Council into disrepute. Certain distributors are discriminating against the most deserving cases, with the idea of bringing the people to think that the council is unable to carry out this milk scheme." '•

Councillor L. M'Kcnzie remarked that what Mr. Wright had stated was true. /Tho Milk Committee had given instructions to the vendors tliint every care was to be taken in distributing tho milk fairly. .The'vendors, were trying to poison the public mind, but the Milk Commit- ; tee was determined to see the milk scheme carried to a successful issue.

Councillor M. F,, Luckie supported tho previous speakers. "The sconer we get rid of the vendors the better," he remarked.

Councillor B. 6. H. Burn said it was {not 'possible rto supply customers on short measure. If the council insisted on making hard conditions for the vendors, it would be only setting up a ~Wny position for itself. To solve the difficulty _the council must ejther pay more for its winter milE: or have its own farm. He was prepared to urge that a higher price be paid for milk if this would ensure the citizens getting adequate supplies. If the people wanted the commodity they must be prepared to pay for it.

Councillor W.-H. Bennett (aotingohairman of the Milk Committee) stated that while high- prices were obtaining for butter-fat there would be a shortage of milk in the ■ winter _ months. .He was afraid that next winter the council would not be able to get any milk at all, because the price of butter-fat was rising still, higher. The- committee was doing the best it could, but the shortage was due. in ». great measure to some employees supplying too much milk at the beginning of their rounds, and afterwards finding that they did not have sufficient for nil' their customers. His own opinion was that the council would have to.acquire a farm to meet the position that arose in the winter.

The Mayor thought the Milk Committee merited the full confidence of the council, and the sympathy of the general public. Thero was no doubt that the committee was "up a very difficult problem. The council should not only be the purchasers of the milk, but the distributors also. (Hear, hear.) Had the City Council bought out the vendors- when the new scheme was started, the present position would not have arisen. That" had tan his advice at the time, and it was a pity it had nod'tan taken/ "But," concluded Mr. Luke,'"there will he no solution of this difficulty until you purchase your own farm." (Hear, hear.) v <