H—3oB

centres; all the increases necessary to raise this level to be applied during the winter months: (2) The immediate payment to all town milk producers of a farm-costs allowance of 0-33 d. per gallon, being the gallonage equivalent of the farm-costs allowance of 0767 d. per pound butterfat granted to the butter and cheese suppliers during the 1943-44 season: (3) The setting-up of an interim Central Authority in the form of a Town Milk Office and the appointment of a Town Milk Officer to carry out the following main functions: — (a) To administer the subsidy claims involved in the payment of the 0-33 d. per gallon farm-costs allowance and the increases due to the Christchureh and Dunedin producers; (b) To develop, in consultation with the Economic Stabilization Commission, a, National Milk Scheme to be introduced as a longterm policy; (c) To prepare the necessary legislation for submission to Parliament which would provide for — (1) Creation of a permanent Central Milk Authority. (2) Establishment of local Milk Authorities. (3) Organization of town milk supply co-operatives. Establishment op Town Milk Office The Government accepted the recommendations of the Economic Stabilizar tion Commission and established the Town Milk Office as the interim Central Authority, Mr. H. IT. Innes, Liaison Officer to the Ministers of Agriculture and Marketing, being appointed Town Milk Officer, and Mr. W. A. Cowell, Milk Officer of the Department of Health, acting as Technical Adviser. Mr. L. C. Nisbet, F.P.A.N.Z., was appointed to the Town Milk Office as Consulting Accountant. Programme for the Period Ist March, 1944, to the 31st August, 1944 (1) Economic Assistance to Town Milk Producers supplying the Christchureh a\nd Dwn&din Areas From the Milk Commission's report it was clear that in Christchureh and Dunedin some immediate price adjustment to producers for the winter months was necessary in order to prevent a further deterioration in the supply position. The Government announced that, for liquid milk and sweet cream sold in the metropolitan areas of Christchureh and Dunedin respectively, the prices payable to town milk producers for the period Ist March to 31st August, 1944, would be as follows: —

3

Christchurch. Dunedin. Price recommended. Increase. recommended. ; Increase - d. d. d. d. March 11 11 1 April 11 11 1 May 15| 1 151 3* June 151 1 151 3 July .. 151 1 151 3 August .. 151 1 151 3