THE CITY'S MILK

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 223, 15 June 1921, Page 6

THE CITY'S MILK

PROBLEM OF WINTER SUPPLY FARMERS WAIT ON COUNCIL DEFINITE PROPOSALS SUBMITTED With tho object of placing the city’s milk supply oil a more satisfactory basis to all concerned, a round-table conference took place last night, between the Milk Committee of the City Council and the Dairy Farmers’ Association, as representing the suppliers. In the past there has been much friction between the parties with regard io the eupply of winter milk and the price thereof, and it was in the desire to obviate this in tho future that the committee consented to receive a deputation from the association. There were present at the conference: Councillors C. J. B, Norwood (chairman), W. 11. Bonnett, H. D. Bennett, B. G. H. Burn and J’. Fraser, comprising tho Milk Committee, and Messrs. J. M. Bertram (managing director of the Dairy Farmers’ Association), F. G. Rvder (Otaki*), J. M. Whiteman (Wallaceville), H. Caverhill (Silverstream), R. V. Brown (Levin), H. p Geange (Upper Hutt), Hutchins (chairman of the Featherston Dairy Company), and Mailey (secretary). The Suppliers’ Difficulties. Speaking on behalf of tho deputation, Mr. Bertram reviewed tho past 21 years since tho council took over the milk supply of Wellington, in support of the farmers’ contention that in order to be satisfactory the matters of pries and supply must be on the lines they proposed. At the beginning, he added, the association signed an agreement drawn up by tho council •containing a ;>enal clause whereby a supplier was penalised on his summer milk to try and make him produce winter milk. .A 8 was wrong in principle, as summer milk products had their market value each year, while winter was always a short supply period and necessitated a fixed price' offered twelve months ahead, to encourage the farmer to prepare for the following year’s supply. As the agreement was unsatisfactory, tho association gave notice and cancelled it, at the same time submitting alterations to make it workable. Tho council replied by coun-ter-proposals, which the association could not consider, and tho result was that the Board of Trade ruling had obtained ever since. Some eight months ago he put before the council a similar proposal to that he now submitted, viz.: summer milk at factory price, with preference to nearby, all-the-year-round suppliers ; winter milk at a. price, announced twelve months ahead, that would encourage suppliers to produce it; but nothing was done by the corporation. In producing winter milk there were, he continued, many risks, over which the farmer had no control: a dry spring, no hay, a dry summer, no root crops, a dry autumn, no grass or green fodder; and it. was essential to have all the different classes of food, as hay was not much good to produce milk without root crops or green fodder. Also, there wore always a number of the winter herd that did not come to profit as expected. It toflk time to build up a winter herd, but if the price was attractive, and fanners knew in time, the winter milk would bo forthcoming In submitting its yproposals, t.l'-a association did so with an earnest desire to reach an amicable working basis that would be lasting and easily adjustable each year at about this time.

Ths Farmers’ Proposals. Mr. Bertram then read the following proposals:— The summer supply from August 15 to May 15 to be on butter-fat test; the price to bo tho best price obtained by cither Featherston, Levin, or To Horo factories; with Jd. per gallon added for extra handling and loss of by-prodects, also Id. per gallon of 10 l-31b. for freight, 20 per cent, additional from April 1 to May 15, and .15 per cent, from August 15 to August 31. Nearby all-the-year-round suppliers to be given preference for summer months. The winter supply from May 15 to August 15 to bo 2s. 6d. per gallon of 10 l-3lb. All these prices for milk landed in Wellington. When there is a suspension of the railway or other services through any cause beyond the power of suppliers to remedy, as on Sundays,- for instance, the cost above the ordinary freight to be paid by the City Council. The supply taken from each supplier in August io bo the average of his supply for Juno and July, if there is a surplus of milk in August. That the scales for weighing milk at tho depot be made legal scales within the meaning of tho Act, by regrading in lbs., and the scales to be tested every six months by the Inspector of Weights and Measures. “If Wo Get the Price.”

Mr. Ryder said that ho now found that he could not produce the quantity of milk that lie had anticipated. He had promised to supply 140 gallons per day, but unfortunately ho had not had either the rain or the right kind of weather. The best he could do this winter was to supply from 110 to 115 gallons. Unless the farmers had the feed the city would never get the milk. At the same time, if the right price was offered farmers would do everything possible to increase tho supply. Councillor Norwood said that there was 'no suggestion in the proposals as to what quantity of milk would be forthcoming.

Mr. Bertram, replying, said that so far as eight, months of the year weite concerned plenty of milk was available. As regards the winter months the council would bo well advised to offer farmers a price that would induce them to make special efforts to increase production. “If wo get the price, you will,” he remarked, “get the milk.” Councillor Norwood: But your proposal docs not show that. Mr. Bertram-. If you want a guarantee you won't expect to get the milk nt tiie price you are offering. So far as I understand none of the farmers are willing to give a guarantee. If you offer a price which is attractive enough, the milk will bo forthcoming during tho three months of shortage. Guaranteed Supply Not Possible.

Mr. Hutchins said he did not think it possible to get any farmer to give any guarantee. He wont on to amplify Mr. Bertram’s remarks relative to the necessity for extra inducement being necessary in order to secure a sufficiency ot. milk during tho winter. »

Air. Brown spoke on liehalf of the small farmers supplying winter milk to the corporation, emphasising tho extra expense and trouble to which they wore put in order to render this service. If tlie corporation offered sufficient inducement they, would get all Gio milk they required. In answer to tho chairman, delegates explained that no man in New Zealand could predict the price of butterfat for the’ coming season. Councillor W. 11. Bennett asked whether it would not lie possible' for the association to give a collective guarantee.

"Mr. Bertram replied that in order to give this the association itself would first have to obtain individual guarantees from the suppliers. No practical farmer would give such a guarantee. Councillor AV. I). Bennett said that, the present difficulty lily more in the direction of jotting ft sufficiency of milk rather than fixing the price to be paid. The City’s Side.

In replying to the deputation Councillor Norwood enid that tho corporation’s

offer io the farmers actually represented a little more than the return that would be secured under the proposals submitted by tho deputation. The council now agreed that the old arrangement had been a failure. The farmers had disregarded it, and were mostly not making any attempt to become really bonafide suppliers to the corporation. This matter -had exercised tho Milk Committee a. great deal. The corporation believed that preference should be green to i.lio nearby suppliers. It was going to abolish the system of differential charges and they could take it for granted that it. was going; to ask the farmers to supply only what milk it actually required. There was going to bo no continuation of the practice whereby tho farmers supplied just as much milk over the city s requirements as they pleased in tho Bummer and just as much under tho city’s quota as they chose in tho winter. The con noil wished to give preference to the nearby farmer, but to make that possible some form of contract would have to be fixed up with the association before the end of the present month. That would give farmers am pm opportunity of calculating how , much milk they could supply next winter, and that would bo the amount the corporation would purchase frem them duriim the summer months as well. Toe council had its duty to perform by the citizens, and any milk required over and above the quantity supplied in the winter by the association would lie obtained from other sources. A Penalty Clause.

"I believe,” he added, "that we shall have to ask you to enter into some form of penalty elapse concerning your estimate of the amount you can supply. M e for our part are liable if we have not got the milk to supply, and if wo enter into a contract in good faith then the proper thing is for you to indemnify us against any loss on this account." Mr. Norwood went on to state that causes responsible for farmers being unable to keep up fheir supplies would be treated on their merits as they eftme along. The main thing was that by the first of next month tho council must be in the position of knowing how much milk the associated farmers, could supply. Otherwise it would have to go elsewhere for next winter’s supply. Dealing with the question of ‘ weighing milk at the depot, Mr. Norwood stressed that tho 1011 b. basis was tho round figure agreed to by the farmers, and they had no complaint on this score. The price of 2s. Od. asked for tho throe winter months was a little more than tho committee had in mind. Tho other part of tho association’s proposal was certainly very liberal. Another point ho made was that the butter-fat value must govern what tho price was to bo. The association must give the corporation the privilege of making full use of its Rahui factory supply. Ho hoped that as the outcome of the present conference a definite and satisfactory basis of settlement, would bo arrived at. Hie committee would decide on its offer and tho association would then be asked how much milk it would supply in the winter, because the quantify nominated by the farmers would lie the amount that the corporation would guarantee to take. Anv arrangement mado would be S'lbject to a 10 per cent, fluctuation either A Matter of Inducement. '

Mr. Bertram said ho was sorry to hear that the council was trying to force a contract, because it would not get one on tho same reasonable terms on which the association was offering to supply milk, without being Led down as to quantity. As to Mr. Norwood s statement that the corporation would not take any surplus milk, the had' never asked for accommodation in (his respect. As io winter milk production. this depended on the inducement offering to farmers. Given favourable terms Featherston farmers could supply up to 3000 gallons. Tho only possible policy was to take the summer milk: at current 'rates, but as regards winter milk (ho council would havo to pay the P Mr Norwood: There is no question but that it is tho duty of the committee • (o soe that householders get milk all tho vear round in tho , qua ? l ? ly the oiiir» Ho went on to state that tl supplies of some farmers had dropped from 30 to -44) gallons per day to 4These men did not deserve any consideia‘"m;. Bertram intimated tluit his asso-l elation intended to "blacklist those of its suppliers who were not prepared to be genuine all-the-year-round suppliers. Tn conclusion, Mr. Norwood said that there were lawsuits pending agains tlm corporation milk department Lot them got them over as quickly as r» sSlbl ’ a lot there be no more friction. "phe deputation then withdrew after thanking the council for hearing then views.