RETAIL PRICE OF MILK

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 527, 30 April 1920, Page 2

RETAIL PRICE OF MILK

INCREASE IN%KEKfIW^|^ -"REASONS FO^Ttyg^^WlP^j Interviewed r<e|yxnli'ivg the amount' of,the ufcrease in price ofm, «r. T. H. director of Ambury stated thfit a rise of Id It- quart dur- * ing the winter mojiths, commencing on May 1, had been agreed on by the vendors-? and suppliers. This wousf mate the price ?d a quart instead of wu The last v rise of a quart had taken place in April, li)I9, and since then the factory &nd retailing costs had increased to suA*.', an extent that a further rise was3th evitable. "In discussing the price of nfilk£ as compared with other articles of*, food" said Mr. Chapman, 'we must' remember that its real food value is not appreciated by the public as yet, | and that 6d -worth'of npilk is cheaper * than Is worth of ifftost other foods. The price of milk in cities in other parts of the world has increased very . considerably during the last year or two. In English towns?, wheie milk could be purchased at 6d a quart five y£&rs ago, the price is now from lOd to Is a quart. American cities are similarly situated, and there is no doubt that Auckland has had milk at a lower price than the ditions of the industry warranted." Referring to the-Jfflc.'ease in ex- _j penses, Mr. Chapman" said that the last increase in price the retail jrfirViis firm—62 men—had beenjgj •'granted two increases in wages, ing in the aggiegate £36 19s a week Hie increase in the price of coal for -J? factories and benzine for motor traf- , iic since last April amounted to ' a week, the increases in the. thiee Jtdijvs being £66 19s. The increased cost of repairs and renewals, horse "feed, harness and other items was another heavy item. *

"We have acted in this matter in • * conjunction with representatives of the farmers who supply milk to the city," said Mr. Ghapman. "The farmers' labour difficulty is a serous one , and they "have" to meet the greatly- '£ increased cost of grass seeds, man- S all farm requisites. "If at, the end of July ijew Zealand is given a free market for butte.i, as the farmers, desire," he continued. "and a price-'"anywhere near vvhkh is being paid in England and the United States is received for- the Dominion's butter, the local price will have to advance considerable, say. to 2s (id pen lb,.in sympainy. That would leave a considerable margin to bo reimbursed oat of the Consolidated Fund to suppUers.i of the lm-al market. If this- does happen and there is no reason to" doubt it. then in order to keep a supply of milk for the cities in New Zealand the price will go to at least , 8d a qujirt."