MILK COMMITTEE

Opotiki News, Volume X, Issue 1042, 31 October 1947, Page 2

MILK COMMITTEE

URGED BY DEPARTMENT BOROUGH COUNCIL DECLINES Recently, Mr. Patterson of the Milk Marketing Division, Wellington visited'Opotiki atul met representatives- of the Opbtiki Borough Council in connection With the Opotiki borough.,milk r -supply. Also present were two representatives of the Health Department, a representative of the Department of Agriculture, representatives of the Milk Supply Association and the local vendors.

Mr. Patterson explained the provisions of the Act at great length. At times the meeting became rather heated, but Mr. T. G. Johnson, who occupied the chair, kept strict control.

Mr. Patterson explained that in the event of the council forming a milk committee, all the milk, supply for the go to one treating house whefe-it would be mixed. It would also be necessary to zone the borough for delivery.

V. Mr. Patterson contended that the formation of the committee would end the trouble that had gone on in Opotiki. At Tuesday night’s meeting of the council the matter came up for a decision and it was unanimously resolved that the council would reject'the Milk Council’s request.

The Mayor said the formation of a milk conimmittcc would only cause,'inore trouble. The present trouble had only arisen as a result of Mr. Tew’s letter to Wellington and which he did not 'think the council'would have knowledge of. The Mayor said he was not in favour of a. monopoly. Cr. Whitfield said that if the council took over the treating house it would be a monopoly, likewise if the dairy association took over the treatment of the milk. Mr. Johnson agreed this would be so. CY. Roc said the ones to be considered most, were the consumers and he was opposed to the formation of a committee ..which would cause even inoi'p trouble. > The council then made its decision not to have anything to do with a milk committee and to let residents have whichever supply then liked.