THE PRICE OF MILK AT PUKEKOHE.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 149, 25 June 1889, Page 8

THE PRICE OF MILK AT PUKEKOHE.

MEETING OF MILK SUPPLIERS,

Immediately after Mr Buckland's cattle sale at Pukekohe on Monday, the 24th of June, a meeting of the Pukekohe milk suppliers was held in the Pukekohe,Hotel for the purpose of making terms with the New Zealand Dairy Association for a supply of milk to the Association's creamery at Pukekohe during the coming summer season. Mr Thomas Wilkinson, who was elected chairman, read the notice convening the meeting, and after a few introductory remarks called upon Mr Spragg, who, along with Mr Fry, was present on behalf of the Dairy Association to lay before the meeting any proposal he might have to make regarding the price oi milk. Mr Spragg, as a preliminary, gave an account of the results of the last season's operations, which had not resulted in a profit. He accounted for this by the facts that there had been a clear loss of £150 on the pig account, and that t/he presence of an opposition creamery, by lessening the amount of milk supplied, increased the working expenses, or rather the percentage of working expenses. This season they had determined to have nothing to do with the pigs, but would insist upon the milk suppliers taking back the separated milk, so that they would get rid of what waß a loss to them, though it could be made a source of 'profit; to the milk suppliers themselves, and they had also made arrangements with Messrs Reynolds and Co. by which each of the companies would have a clear field to work in without opposition. Messrs Reynolds andJCo. would confine their operations to the Waikato district, whilst they ithe New 'Zealand Dairy Association) would do business only north of the Waikato. This would have the effect of putting all the milk through their hands, which would be worked at the same expense as would be required for a smaller quantity ; which would enable them to make a little advance upon the price which had been given last year. The price that the Association would be prepared to give was 2£d per gallon, the "separated or 3kim milk to be returned to the suppliers. _ ~

Mr Cafchcarb objected to taking back the" skim milk, as it would be a very difficult thing for those who lived at a distance from fche creamery to do so with convenience. He would not take it back if he were to get ifc for nothing. After a few others had spoken in the same strain, the Chairman said that nobody had suggested what ought to be done with the skim milk wibh a view of agreeing on the matter.

Mr Spragg said that tho Association had fully determined to do business in Pukekohe next season, and that at the price of three pence per gallon (applause) less a farthing per gallon for the skim milk to be returned to the supplier. (Oh, oh). He would, however, suggest thafc those who wished to take back the skim should do so, and if those who did nofc, would allow it to remain at the creamery to be fed to pigs, the Association might purchase the pigs, feed them, kill them, and dispose of them, on behalf of the milk suppliers, who would have to take the responsibility of its turning out to their profit or their loss. Mr Patrick Walsh asked whether the loss on the pig account last season had not been caused through an inferior breed of pigs having been kept. Mr Spragg said tbat he would acknowledge fchafc the loss had been brought about through their own incapacity, the management of pigs being a subject fchey did not understand. ~_,,. Mr Roulston did nob think the difficulty could be got over in the way suggested by Mr Spragg, but, seeing that the skim milk was the sticking-point, thought that as the Dairy Association had quite made up their minds not to keep the pigs themselves, if they would advance an eighth of a penny per gallon, the people might be willing to accept thafc price and take back the skim lab a farbhing. Mr Walsh supported Mr Roulston's suggestion. Mr Barbour said that if the Association would agree to give an extra farthing per gallon during the second (or last) four months, the difficulty would be got over, as the farmers had ab thab time to grow special feed, in the shape of roots, maize, etc.. which cost money, and they would require the extra farthing to make it up. Mr Soragg said fchab he would be quite prepared to give an exfcra farbhing during that time, if the price for the first four months, but they had during the lasb few weeks gone into all tbe lasb season's accounts very searchingly, and the

2gd per gallon for the whole season was the very utmost they could give in order to be sure that they would not be working at a positive loss, and he very much feared that if they were to agree to Mr Roulston's suggestion aud advance even an eighth of a penny on that price, it would result in the stoppage of the Association's operations. Mr Brown (Puni) wished to know what arrangements would be made for their getting the skim milk back. He had taken his milk to the opposition creamery last season, and there had been great loss of time in waiting for the skim, and this loss of time was entitled to be paid for in some way.

Mr Spragg said that he would undertake to put in a sufficient number of machines to run the milk through as fast as it could be supplied, so that there should be no loss of time caused in that way; he would also undertake to put on a man to superintend the return of the skim and keep a correct account by weight of everyone's supply. In reply to an inquiry from Mr Chad wick he said that it was the invariable custom at all the creameries he knew of for the skim milk to be taken away by the suppliers.

Mr Brown, said.he could not see why there should be so much disinclination to take back the skim milk. He had kept calves last season, and they had been fed on nothing whatever beyond the skim milk he had obtained from the creamery, not even grass, as they had been kept "on tho chain" like dogs from the time they were calved uotil they were killed, and he could assure the meeting that he had never eaten better or finertasted veal in his life than they were. Although he lived perhaps as far away from the creamery as anyone in the room, he was quite willing to take back his skim, as he had to go back anyway, the same as themselves, and might as well take it as not. Mr J. H. Wright said that he would recommend them all to set apart and properly fence a pig-paddock, as he intended to do, and by feieding them with the skim milk, he was quite satisfied that a profit would be made ©ut of them, if they kept the right sort of pigs and not too many of them. He would propose that the meeting accept the terms offered by tho New Zealand Dairy Association, viz., 2|d per gallon, and the separated milk to be returned.

Mr Roulston seconded the proposition, remarking that he had always found Mr Spragg straightforward and truthful in his statements, and as he (Mr Spragg) had gone into the matter very carefully and could not even advance an eighth of a penny, the best course to pursue would be to accept the terms, and trust to the Association's season being so prosperous that they would be able to see their way to give more the following season. Mr Wm. Morrow proposed as an amendment, " That the meeting refuse to supply for less than 3d per gallon, and the skim milk to be returned," but failed to meet with a seconder for the amendment.

Mr Wright's proposition was put to the meeting by the Chairman, and carried, with only one dissentient voice. Votes of thanks to Mr Wilkinson (the chairman), Messrs. Fry and Spragg, the representatives of the New Zealand Dairy Association, for their attendance, and to Mr Miller, proprietor of the hotel, for the use of the room, terminated the meeting ; which was attended by about fifty milksuppliers.