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Upon receipt of these recommendations the Government, in March, 1944, as a preliminary step, established a Town Milk Office as a section of the Department of Agriculture to act as the interim Central Authority and to carry out the following functions: — (a) To develop, in consultation with the Economic Stabilization Commission, a national milk scheme to be introduced as a long-term policy. (&) To prepare the necessary legislation for submission to Parliament which would; create a permanent Central Authority, together with provision for the establishment of local authorities and the formation of co-operative town milk producer supply associations. Subsequently, on the 15th December, 1944, the Milk Act was passed establishing a Central Milk Council as the permanent central authority for the industry. Provision was also made for setting up local authorities in respect of declared milk districts and the official recognition of producer supply associations. Objects, Fimctio<7bs, amd Constitution of the Central Milk Council In accordance with the provisions of sections 96 to 106 of the Milk Act, 1944, the Central Milk Council was gazetted in January, 1945, and the first meeting of the Council was held on the 27th and 28th February of the same year. The objects for which the Council was established were the provision of an adequate supply of milk of good quality for human consumption and the organization of production, treatment, and distribution on an economic basis. The main objects of the Council are—(a) To carry on research and investigation relating to milk and milk products, including chemical, physical, bacteriological, and economic research: (&) To devise and promote as far as practicable improved, methods of producing, collecting, treating, carrying, delivering, and distributing milk, including the distribution of milk in sealed containers: (c) To report to the Government from time to time upon matters affecting the objects for which the Council was established and to make recommendations to the Government as to the constitution, union, alteration, or operation of milk districts and milk authorities: (d) To guide and supervise the activities of Milk Authorities and to make inquiries and recommendations on any matters referred to it by the Government. The personnel and constitution of the first Council were as follows: Chairman, the Hon. A. H. Nordmeyer, as Minister of Health. Dr. Muriel Bell, representing the interests of women and children, appointed on the recommendation of the Minister of Health. Mr. M. E. Lyons, Deputy Mayor of Christchurch and representative of the Municipal Association of New Zealand (Incorporated), appointed on the recommendation of the Minister of Health. Messrs. K. K. Montgomerie and C. J. McFadden, representatives respectively of North and South Island Town Milk Producer Associations, and appointed on the recommendation of the Minister of Agriculture. Mr. H. E. Combs, M.P., appointed on the recommendation of the Minister of Health. Mr. H. H. Innes, as Director of Milk Marketing.

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