PRODUCERS' PROTESTS

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 23, 27 July 1945, Page 9

PRODUCERS' PROTESTS

SEE RIGHTS ATTACKED

"If the Government proceeds with its policy of nationalising the treatment of town milk and taking over the business of producer co-operatives, then as town milk producers we are bound to say 'This is war'," said Mr. W. Marshall at the annual meeting of the Town Milk Producers' Federation of New Zealand yesterday. "Recent developments in the Hutt Valley were a direct indication of intention to nationalise, under the guise of municipal control, the ownership of treating houses. "The Central Milk Council has expressed the opinion that milk treatment plants in the Hutt Valley and bays' milk district should be owned, controlled, and operated by the local milk authority. It has also advised the federation that shoult. the local milk authority disagree with the council's decision, it would be necessary to arrange for a local inquiry. We should press strongly for the preservation of producers' rights to own and operate our own treating houses." If municipal treatment was desired, it should be done only on the result of a poll by ratepayers, said Mr. Marshall. That, however, was not the story at present, and the federation should unmask the danger of State control of the industry. / Mr. A. Hardham outlined the situation which had developed in. the Hutt Valley. Milk was brought 22 miles to Wellington from Mangaroa, pasteurised and bottled in the municipal depot, and then carried back to the Hutt Valley and bay for delivery by the vendors. The Wellington Dairyfarmers' Association had already established a pasteurising plant in its Mangaroa factory and had endeavoured to import a bottling plant. Government action had, however, blocked every move by the association to import that plant and had given the Wellington City Council an opportunity to secure for itself the market in the Hutt Valley. It was unanimously decided to inform the Government that town milk producers took a most serious yiew of the position, regarding it as a direct attack on producers' rights. Immediate reconsideration of the Government's policy was demanded.