SCARCITY OF MILK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 91, 17 April 1913, Page 5

SCARCITY OF MILK.

L. :. :.. - --•'.■ DEMAND EXCEEDS SUPPLY. PRICE RAISED 3d PER GALLON. The extremely unfavourable nature of. the season at the present time fot pastoral ipuisuits has directly affected the. available-milk supply for the city. For many weeks past the supply has been unequal to the demand, and retailers have been forced to go further andfurther afield for milk -■ to satisfy the needs of the city and 6ttburban consumers. Those who.are in a position to gauge the situation with J approximate accuracy estimate that, the demand for milk in the city and'suburbs: is from 1,500 to 2,000 gallons daily greater-.than. .j _ the supply. Ih'the circumstances the'retailere nave decided to raise.the price of miik^rfrom' Sunday" next, from 4d toJ.4Jd j^ftuaiEt, ■■ the increase to be on a haLse-to the'larger consumers... It .is . ; understood that the retailers 'are strongly opposed to the rise,~ but they - feel that, the exigencies of the srKuation, ' and the absolute necessity to' limit the '■ demand,-cannot be > met in aßy other '] way. One half of the increase, will go ' to the producer, J and the other half will ' be available to meet' the increased' e"x- '■ pence of conveying to the city wliat supplies* are "able to he obtained. • , : . ; The price of cream, is;to : -he..raised 5 - correspondingly—pints'front'l/2 to 1/4, ' half-pints from 7d to Bd, and small pots'- - from' 4d'to'; sd\ The-venders antiouncc ' that.^he'price will be reduced so soon-as ' a permanent improvement of the-weather-conditions makes'a more plentifal supply ' of milk available.-' -•'■•