DUNEDIN’S MILK

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 181, 2 July 1937, Page 8

DUNEDIN’S MILK

SUPPLY AND PRICES. FARMERS’ DIFFICULTIES. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, July 1. With wholesale and consuming prices too widely divergent the farmer is not getting a price which will give him a reasonable standard of living. With the usual winter output down by GO ,per cent, and feed in short supply and expensive to buy the milk-producing industry is in a deplorable state, according to a report to to-day’s meeting of the Otago Milk Producers’ Association.

It was reported that many farmers were giving up milking and more would follow unless the prospects improved. The meeting was the third held within recent months and proof was available that at last the producers were organising as a body and that contact had been made with the Dunedin City Council on the question of the mu'nicipalisation of the supply. While the original proposal of a “strike” for higher prices appeared to have been rejected, a few members were openly pessimistic of the municipal scheme being adopted, one stating that the ratepayers would he foolish to approve a loan of £250,000 which would cause the consuming price to he further advanced.

The organiser, Mr L. A. McAdain, said: “A number of farmers are_ in favour of drastic action by way of a strike for higher prices, but just as many are not in favour of such action, and I feci sure after hearing much argument on both sides and after a great deal of thought on the matter that a strike is not the way out of the difficulty.

i “There is a shortage of milk lor the jcity supply at present,” said Mr Me Adam, “and the indications arc that the shortage will he more acute for the next two months at least. A number of farmers have already given up dairying and I am convinced that many more will do so unless something is done in. the way of control so that the outlook will be more hopeful than at present. The majority of farmers interviewed are in favour of municipal control.” , ~, “A strike is not the way out ot the difficulty,” said the president, Mr Young. “I know if we stuck together and fixed the price wc could do something, but I am not in favour of startin" ji war. 5 . „ , ... Mr Blackic saul tlic association should protest strongly through the Agriculture Department against unregistered milk being supplied to the 'city. When there was a shortage unregistered suppliers stepped in and orten received a better price than the man who had been supplying for years. The City Council had made strong demands for pure milk and had collected analvst foes from farmers, ■ yet the acceptance of unregistered milk was countenanced. As a possible source of danger the attention of the Health Department should also be drawn to unregistered supplies. Mr Young said it was quite possible the City Council might not introduce a minicipal scheme and the producers should be allowed to elect two directors to the biggest company, i The president said the suggestion was L „ o od one, hut ho could not see how ft could be carried out. Representations i,v the producers at the annual meeting of the company. had been rejected. Tinder the reconstruction by the zoning of dairy companies they could not say

what would he the future for the milk supply. However, there was every chance of a municipal scheme. “The Citv Council will have to raise i oa n of £250,000 to introduce the scheme and the peoole of Dunedin will be very foolish if they.allow it as it will surely mean an increase in the cost of their milk,” said Air Young. The discussion then closed.