MILK SUPPLY

Hokitika Guardian, 17 July 1933, Page 6

MILK SUPPLY

THE AUCKLAND TROUBLE

MINISTER’S STAND

(Per Press Association— Copyright).

AUCKLAND, July 17

Declaring that the Government would not stand by and .allow small farmers around Auckland to face ruination, which the ruling prices for milk in the city would produce, the act'ingMinister of Industries and Commerce, ‘Hon. Cobbe, to-day appealed to a conference of the interested parties to sink their differences and make a fair, bind, jng. lasting agreement. He the Government were greatly 'concerned with the Auckland milk problem, but it, wit fi not anxious to legislate. As men of business they ought to be able to handle the'concern themselves, without the Government’s intervention None of the distributors or producers seemed to be making a fortune at piesent. It had been suggested that one concern wag trying to obtain control of the distribution. No Government liked .anything tending to monopolistic control of an industry, particularly one dealing with foodstuffs, now did the Government stand for excessive prices being ( paid by consumers. Hon. Cobbe added I that although the Government' was not anxious to legislate lie would like this to bo clearly understood, that the Government is actively engaged in bringing about settlement on small holdings, > and therefore it cannot idly 'by and allow small farmers who are already on the land, to be ruined; It i cannot .do 'that, .and moreover it will not do it. The public would not stand for it. We would be kicked out as We would deserve to be.

Hon. Cobbe said lie understood that miTk j,n Auckland was being taken from farmers at' 2)d to 3d a gallon, whereas Wellington farmers were receiving Is li<d. The present price s were absurd. The conference, is Exceeding.