Changes in milk suppliers

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 40, 26 March 1985, Page 13

Changes in milk suppliers

From 1 July, when the Raetihi Milk Company closes its doors for the last time, customers in the Ohakune/Raetihi/ Waiouru areas will receive their milk from the Palmerston North depot. National Park residents will be served by the Taumarunui suppliers. The announcement was made last week by Mr Maurice Riddle, the District Manager for the Milk Board, who is based in Palmerston North. However, Mr Riddle was unable to confirm that the price for a pint of milk would drop from the 41 cents currently charged to 35 cents, which is the price patrons in both Palmerston North and Taumarunui pay. Milk from Palmerston North is delivered to Taihape four days per week, on Sunday, Tuesday, Thurs-

day and Friday and it is understood that the same will apply in this area, although Mr Riddle said that seasonal fluctuations could see the frequency increase if necessary. No decision has yet been made as to where the milk will be unloaded, although the Board has looked into the possibility of setting up a station in Waiouru with vendors from Raetihi and Ohakune travelling there to pick up their milk. It is also possible that a station may be established in either Ohakune or Raetihi and the final decision on this will determine what price residents will eventually pay for their milk. In National Park, milk deliveries will be made by the Taumarunui depot, four days per week in summer and six days in the busy winter months. Both areas will be able to

choose between 'regular' milk, homogenised and the non-fat variety, while the Palmerston North depot will be able to supply thirteen varieties of their Heidi brand yoghurt to Ohakune, Raetihi and Waiouru. The five dairy milk suppliers in the Ruapehu region will eventually be phased out, although they will continue to milk their herds for about three years. A tanker will come from Palmerston North every second day to collect the milk. The Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr David Caygill, has requested that a complete review of the town milk industry in New Zealand be undertaken by the industry's development commission. The commission has issued guidelines for the enquiry, which includes looking at a nationwide price structure, something which currently exists for beer and petrol, but not milk. Ohakune mayor, Mr Bill

Taylor, is one who will be very interested in the results of the enquiry, as he has maintained for several years that Milk Board customers in the Ruapehu region have been unfairly treated. He firmly believes that a bottle of milk should cost the same throughout the country and has made that point to the Wanganui United Council, which has sent submissions to the development commission. Meanwhile, Mr Maurice Riddle, has said that the Milk Board's customers in Waiouru, Ohakune, Raetihi and National Park, will be informed within a month of the price they will pay for .milk after 1st July. Although the Milk Board has decided that this area's milk will come from Palmerston North and Taumarunui, the decision is subject to approval from the depots in Palmerston North and Taumarunui. The depots are expected to accept or reject the decision within the next few weeks.