STRATFORD DAIRY COMPANY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 April 1918, Page 3

STRATFORD DAIRY COMPANY.

To the Editor. Sir,—ln reply to a letter appearing in your issue of the 20th., signed by the secretary of the Stratford Dairy Company, the facts as stated by him are misleading. Before replying, I have interviewed those whose milk was refused, and will briefly state the facts as given to me by Mr. Hunger, who can substantiate my statements. I n the first place, the manager at the Skinner road creamery only accepted the milk conditionally on receiving the consent of the general manager, with whom Mr. Hunger was to communicate. Mr. Hunger rang up the Stratford Company's office, stated the case, and asked permission to take his milk to their creamery until the road was re-opened and the bridge safe to cross. The secretary refused, but asked Mr. Hunger to wait until he called the manager, who came to the 'phone and told Mr. Hunger t'hey would not accept his milk at their creamery. Mr. Hunger subsequently saw one of the directors, and he also confirmed the words of the manager and secretary. They may have consulted the chairman later, but no word was received by any of those who wished to take their milk to the Skinner road creamery informing them their milk would be received by the Stratford Dairy Company.

Reviewing the circumstances, is it feasible to believe that any persoii taking their milk to the Skinner toad creamery one morning would take the; milk next day to another factorv several miles further away if they were allowed to go to a closer one? As regards weather, the roai was impaiaabb. Yon only need look at the road now that the slip has been partially removed to realise that the road was utterly impassable. Had Messrs Hunger, Tucker, and Meuli have known that the manager of the Stratford Company was only one in name, with no power to refuse milk or otherwise without first consulting the directors, they would certainly have ignored him and gone direct to the chairman. I might ask if the general manager's word in these matttors is not final, what is his position?—l am, etc., STRATFORD SHAREHOLDER April 22, 1918.