Milk Board Discussion On Going Out Of Existence

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 58, 27 July 1965, Page 5

Milk Board Discussion On Going Out Of Existence

The main item of discussion at the fifth annual meeting at Tirau on Tuesday of the South East Waikato Milk Board — the body which administers deliveries of milk in the Matamata County, Mangakino and Taupo County areas — concerned the prospects of the board going out of existence, It was stated that amendments proposed for the Milk Act, 1944, would eliminate direct representation of consumers on district milk boards. The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Talboys, supported the amendments, which were strongly opposed by the New Zealand Milk Authorities' Association, members were told.

Mr H. J. Spear, of Tokoroa, who was re-elected _ chairman, said that the r board had discussed the position previously and raised no objection to its going out of existence. "We felt it would be getting rid of an cid hoc body, which would mean less drain on the people who have to keep these organisations going," Mr Spear said. However, it was understood at the time that the board's functions would be taken over by territorial local bodies, but this was not as proposed in the amendments supported by Mr Talboys. Under the new proposals the New Zealand Milk Board would take over the administration of factories, supplies and the vendors. All the local authorities would do would be to licence dairies and milk bars. Milk authorities varied in their functions. The South . East Waikato board was concerned with consumers' interest, but city milk authorities, run as big businesses, controlled everything through from supplier to factory, he added. Local people should still have some say concerning | distribution. The management of factories came under the scope of the Food and Health Act and it was the factories' business to arj range for milk supplies from • a good souree, Mr Spear I said. Mr U. R. MacDonald, representing the Taupo County Council, said he agreed | basically with getting away I from ad hoc bodies. i "We should support Mr Talboys in this, but he has gone further by taking away duties and giving them to a bureaucracy, the New Zealand Milk Board, instead of I ! giving them to territorial local bodies," Mr MacDonald said. Mr R. J. Broadbelt, district manager of the New | Zealand Milk Board at Ham- ; ilton, was asked for his | board's view. "We have no viewpoint. ! We are sandwiched in," Mr j Broadbelt said. "However, I think that the board could handle matters as well, if

not better, than most milk I authorities. Some of these | authorities do not even hold J meetings." Mr G. R. Chapman, repre- | senting the South Waikato j Milk Vendors' Association, said that the vendors were happy with the present administration because of close co-operation with the South East Waikato board. Some milk authorities were very unjust to their vendors. The vendors supported Mr Talboys, he added. Mr Broadbelt said that the New Zealand Milk Board would take notice of the views of territorial local bodies. Mr Talboys had said that the local bodies would be able to supervise milk saies in shops only, Mr Spear said. In other words they would have no control over vendors, zoning and transfer of licences. Mr D. G. Joll, representing the Department of Agriculture. said that the proposals would cut out existing overlapping and would effect savings. The South East Waikato board decided that it would have no objections to the abolishing of milk authorities providing their powers were handed over to territorial local bodies. "Probably they won't take notice of us because we are so small and we will be pushed along with the rest," Mr Spear said. The board will convey its opinions to the New Zealand Milk Authorities' Associa- : tion and to the Member for i Taupo, Mrs Rona Stevenson. ]