OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 May 1941, Page 6

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

AIII.K PRICE RAISED ‘.To the Editor.) Sir.—The people of Maslerton today received notices from their milk vendors that the price of milk will be raised one penny per quart from June 1. I have no fault to find with the zoning system; it saves a great deal of money on the delivery, but who benefits? On their own statements, the milk vendors save 300 gallons of benzine a month, a corresponding amount on motor wear etc., also on labour costs, and the cash or coupon system cuts out all bad debts. Where does all this extra profit go? It goes into the pockets of the milk vendors, who were already doing quite well. In addition they now have an absolute monopoly of milk supply in the borough. No one else can start a miik round. Now tlicy notify us that we have to pay an extra IG per cent and we apparently have no redress.

What were cur worthy Mayor and Councillors doing when this racket was put through? It was their duty to see that the interests of the people were safeguarded, but not them. Unless Masterton forms a strong Ratepayers’ Association, they will get more of this sort of thing. Anyway has this monopolistic sort of zoning any legal] standing? Can this small body of mill: ] sellers keep all others out. and fix or I raise any price they like? After all I tile benefits they have received, this latest rise is simply plain war profiteering, nothing iess. I understand that there is such a thing as a Price Tribunal, and if our Mayor and council arc worth a fraction of the price they cost us let them get busy. What is wrong w.‘th a borough milk supply anyway?— Yours, etc., “FAIR PLAY.” Master! on, May 29.

' , I On behajf of the milk vendors’ association of Mastertoil, Messrs D. Brown and R. Emerson -state: The wholesale price of milk to Masterton vendors has been increased by the pro- , ducers, in accordance with the usual . practice in winter months, by 3d per ■ gallon and the increased charge by the' retailers amounts to : |d per quart, { which considering that winter supplies ’ have to be supplemented by milk pur- ’ chased sometimes as far afield as Greytown, does not even cover cartage ' costs. The vendors in Masterton, more- ' over, pay a higher price per gallon than is paid in most pa’rts of New Zealand. though, it is painted cut, dair.Zs in the Masterton area are of a higher standard than elsewhere. The increase in the winter price of milk locally this year has been brought into effect a month later than was the case last year and from a month, to six weeks later than is the case in other towns. The cost of labour has .increased and zoning has resulted in little if tiny saving in labour costs. Exira running and maintenance costs of motor vehicles have practically equalised the saving in petrol costs. As regards the establishment of zoning, there was no attempt on the part of the vendors io sot up a monopoly. The' whole scheme was instituted at the suggestion of the Government in order to conserve petrol and has been carried into effect in common with many other towns in : New Zealand. The zoning system was , legally recognised by the Government. . Several recent additional costs to the ' vendors have not been passed on to the . public. In ib.e case of the increased { price of milk for the winter months, this does not give the vendor any ; monetary gain. .

The Town Clerk, Mr G. T. O'Hara Smith, states that the Borough Council. at the instance of the Minister concerned, had approved the zoning of milk deliveries as a war time measure to conserve petrol. It had nothing to do with the fixing of milk prices.