SYDNEY’S MILK.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1921, Page 4

SYDNEY’S MILK.

et: SYDNEY, Feh. 22. »S An extraordinary position exists tolay in regard to Sydney’s milk supply, rhe city is almost without milk. The Farmers are refusing to send their milk to the market. Several months ago, the milk producers told the Government authorities a woeful tale about drought conditions and hand-feeding, and they were allowed to charge a higher price lor milk. They went happily along on that very high price until a couple of weeks ago, xvhen the new Profiteering Prevention y Court pointed out that for months past the pastoralists, following on the bountiful rains which marked the breaking d of the drought, had enjoyed a most prosperous season. The price of milk j was thereupon reduced. ! The small farmers raised a most dole- : Ini howl. The dairy farmers, it was de- j dared, would he ruined. r l he Court replied by pointing out that the city! consumer paid just twice the amount _ j for milk that the producer received:, the balance went into the hands of two ; or three l ings of middlemen, the con- j tinned existence of which was a public ; scandal. If t.lie producers "'anted o more, they should wipe out the middle-, men and establish a closer connexion ( between production and consumption. , The “Grand Council of the Milk Sup-j pliers’ Association ol New South | c Wales” duly met, and considered the j matter, xvith the result that the farm-j ! ers were allowed to “take individual i action according to their judgment. ' If it he true that there was no coucert- | ed action taken, it is a remarkable fact I (hat Sydney awoke on Monday to find L 1 Use'll' practically without milk. Indi- ; cidual action, according to judgment, was taken with xvonderful unanimity. However, they dodged the law, xvhieli would have made concerted action a ; subject for prosecution. Trade unionists, who have always been cursed bv the farmers for refusing jto accept industrial awards, are not j losing this opportunity of pointing out ( j that the farmers themselves are just as ; great sinners. i