THE PRICE OF MILK

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 54, 26 November 1921, Page 3

THE PRICE OF MILK

Sir, —Mr. Wilford has brought the Wellington milk embroglio before the House, and rightly. Councillor Norwood is moving heaven and earth to keep it out, and Councillor McKenzie, who is tho least informed of any of the councillors on the subject, is trying to help him. First and foremost any comparison with other districts must be absolutely and completely cut out. It would bo quite easy to proyo tliat'■Wellington’s scheme is influencing prices in other districts, and adversely to the interests of the consumers at that. Prices in other districts have no influence on Wellington, and must not be brought info discussions on the subject. The reference to vendors must also be cut out. Personally, I am eager to accept Councillor Norwood’s challenge of vendors’ opposition to his methods, but I opine no vendor will oppose a Parliamentary inquiry, and the fuller the better, but that is what Councillor Norwood wants to burk. Sir John Luko could bear witness that my appeal for the council to intervene priginally started the movement now in operation; but, for reasons, I refused later to take any part in the management. On July 9, 1918, at the prime meeting, I reiterated that refusal to Councillor Norwood before the full meeting of councillors, vendors, and others (interlopers). The council need not be hampered by anything I can do or think on the matter, and, if he speak his heart he will allow that I am the only vendor’ he has in mind when he makes his aspersions. The public want definite information, not persiflage, and they will never get that from Councillor Norwood. The only chance is the inquiry Mr. Wilford is asking for. —I am, HENRY BODLEY. November 24.

Sir,—We have readl Councillor Norwood’s statement, and wonder what it all means. Why aie newspaper correspondents constantly hitting at the dairy farmers, the hard-working men who produce the milk, rise at 4 a.m., pay rent, taxes, etc., and make it possible for the municipality to be supplied with 400 gallons per day? A huge turnover surely, and they ought to feel satisfied to leave the dairy farmer alone with his modest 30 gallons per day limit. It is' all very well to sit and pass this law and that in meetings by men who have never experienced the discomforts of dairying, and also to restrict the farmers to rules, etc. If he supplies good milk up to test he should got a. fair price, as running a.dry farms now is not what it was some years ago, and it is no use any company of men checking enterprise and hard work. So let Councillor Norwood run his milk scheme by all means, but let him also treat the small farmer with consideration and justice.—l am, etc., IN THE BUSINESS.