MILKMEN are looking to their customers to help protect their livelihoods. Guernsey Milk Retailers’ Association members are mailing clients to seek their support in opposing Commerce and Employment Department plans to revamp the way milk is sold.
In the letter, GMRA members claim the department is going to great lengths to give the impression that nothing will really change when, in reality, it is trying to dispose of a tried-and-tested formula.
‘It is obvious that Commerce and Employment is desperate to save a few pounds of operational costs at the Dairy and is doing so at the expense of the milk distribution system without considering the long-term consequences,’ said the letter.
Recipients are being asked to sign a form which will be used to petition States members, or, alternatively, to call their deputies to voice their concerns.
The department claimed its new system would provide increased security for milkmen while stopping short of the free market approach. It would stop some way short of complete state control or milkmen having exclusive rights enshrined in law.
GMRA president Jason Piriou said the Dairy and previous departments and committees, by practice and custom, had actively supported the current licensing and zoning system for milkmen.
‘It is only this department that has wanted the system to be scrapped to suit its own ends,’ he said.
‘We are convinced that what they are proposing will not work in the best interests of the islanders and the dairy industry and will result in an uncontrollable mess.’
The licensing and zoning system offered stability to the industry, he said.
‘We believe the optimum amount of produce is being sold and there’s no way we could sell more, so we are puzzled why there’s a need to change the system.’
The new one would enable new people to come into the supply network without having to buy a round.
‘We will be working hard to make sure that States members are fully aware of the implications of what Commerce and Employment is proposing and that the full information is available to them before they make a decision.’
Commerce and Employment chief officer Nigel Lewis said that in theory people would be able to sell milk without buying a round but he doubted that would happen in practice.
Potential milkmen would have to demonstrate they were creditworthy, had no criminal record and would take at least 1,000 litres of milk per week.
Roughly 50% of milk was sold through shops so potentially there was a market there, but that would involve people changing their habits.
‘The likelihood of there being anyone who would look to start a milk round from scratch without buying one is very remote, as it would be a fragile base on which to start a business,’ said Mr Lewis.
Article posted on 11th April, 2007 - 12.00am
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