BRITISH COWS ARE MILKING WELL

Chronicle (Levin), 1 July 1947, Page 7

BRITISH COWS ARE MILKING WELL

Coiresnondent. )

(Snecial

• Received Monday, 7.0 p.in. LONDON, june 30. Despite some of Britain's dairy lierds being xn a "parlous state tor food" in March so that dairy •producers ini.'^Li well have been discouraged, tiiuif aehievements had been outstanding, Sii Thomas Baxter, chairman of the British Milk Marketing Board, told the angual meeting. As the result of tlieir supreme elforts, he continued, milk production for the year exceeded all-previ-ous reeords, aniounting to 1,250,000,000 gallons or 38,000,000 gallons niore than was produced the prexious year. Qual ty has iinjxroved sunullancously and milk." pro'duced by^tuberculjn -tested lierds increased by 24 per cent. Sir Thomas said t^g board liad paid just over £124,000,00.0, to producera for rhe year comparedvlwith just over £110,000,000 the prevd&us year. Part of t his increase was ^(lufci to increased qnaatities-'Of ■ milk'«old and part to the increase in pricesc Tfhe average price per gallon, excluding.» moneys paid for (lualit}' premiums, was 2(5d, an increase ovei last 3-ear of 14d granted by the Ministry to meet hig'her wages to agricultural workers and liigaer costs or production generally. Last tvear, Sir Thomas continued, tlie British public. .cons.umed inore milk thaa ever before and 90 .p,ey cent. of all. Ihe board 's supplies sol^ as liquid milk njie demand was eonsjderablv in excess J of the supply which necessitated a re striction of ciuantit}- to consumers. Those in the priority, classes obtained their full supplies and about one-third of the people got 53 per cent of all milk available. Tvvo-thirds of the jieople could only have 47 per cent oi the milk production and therefore "011 pretty short rations for many months in the year." The board regarded it as a duty to provide sufficient milk to meet fullv the dqmand from all consuinors. '"This is a very; . wformidable task, especialiy when we f'know that conpumption has reaclied.a level of more than 50 per cent over prewar, " he.said. "We cannot expect the eowr numbers to increase rapidly and most of us are convineed that we have already in Britain a dairy herd of a size which with good management and proper feeding, can give us all Ihe milk w-e want not only fox the liquid market but also to supply the needs for fresh cream, millc powder and condensed milk. " Referring to Government policy, Sir Thomas observed .that';fhe Agricultural Bill wras " designed _ jto give security th rough guAranteed pr'iccs and assured marlcets which may he limited in both time and quatitity.J ' . -Tio add.ed that he welcomed the principie of guaranteed prices which was a ".grcat advance on our traditional prewar; methods or price fixing. " ' ' I ltnow, ' ' he said, ' ' that the pro ducers will cooperate fully and carry out their part in discharging the Gov ernment policj', but I also believe that the.v must ensure that their own marketing organisat.ion is at all times in good order both for cooperating fulltv with the Governmeirt and also for their own protection in case at some future time there is a reversal of Government policy which mav threaten their in te.rests. "