DEARER MILK

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 143, 12 March 1920, Page 6

DEARER MILK

CITY'S WINTER SUPPLY 1 REPORT OF THE MILK COMMITTEE 0 : 1 The Milk Committee reported to the Oitv Council last night that it had conforred with representatives of the Wellington Dairy Farmers' Co-operative Association. Limited, with refe'ence to the pr'cl l to be paid by the council i'or supplies during the months of February, Jlarch, and April. An offer was uiiulo bjl the committee of Is. per gallon for milk during February, and Is. Id. for supplies during Mnr:h. The farmers were not prepared to accept this offer,, and it had been Agreed to place the matter before tho Board of Trado for settlement.

Councillor W. IT. Bennett said it was more than p'obable that when the winter months came the council would have to raise the price of milk. There seemed to be no escape from that position. Councillor Norwood had written, statins that he was gathering information about milk supply in America, and was mora than over convinced that the Wellington City Council was proceeding on the right lines. Tho price of milk had. been fixed until April, but he could not hold out anv hope, that the uniform price would be maintained during the winter mouths of this year. He had road in the newspapers that new charges had lieen imposed upon tho City Council bv the Arbitration Court, but the committee had received no official information oil the point. Councillor W. J. Thompson said he thought tho council was going the right wav to discourage the farmers fromsending millc into the city at all. Tile farmers, wero not compelled to supply the citv with milk. Had the committee anv authority to refer tho matter to thn Board of Trade? Councillor L. M'Kenzie explained that th«- farmei'3 had made certain requests to the. council, and a deadlock had been r.'ached. The agreement provided that in the event of a dispute the matter should be referred to tho Board of Trade. This had been done, both sides consentinz. Councillor Bennett 6tated that the Board of Trado had already met to deal with the matter. Its decision was that the council should pay an extra penny a gallon for the months of February, March, and April.