MILK AT A PREMIUM.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 127, 29 May 1919, Page 4

MILK AT A PREMIUM.

. A 3,000 GAI.LON SHORTAGE. RATIONING SUGGESTED. The acute position which prevailed some few weeks past in reference to a shortage of milk supplies has been accentuated by cold nights setting in quickly ■after the drought and completely checking the growth of grass, with the result that theie has been a further serious decrease in the quantity of milk avail-. able. Already condensed milk has eubstituted cow's milk in several of the j restaurants in the city, while as much as sixpence per glass has been charged for it. ■Milk vendors are now seriously considering the advisability of instituting a system of rationing. This, they believe is certain to come if something in the way of rigid economy ia not practised by householders. The question of rationing as a way of meeting the demands of the public with a dwindling supply was first •.considered seven weeks ago,. when through the position having become w> acute the price of milk was raised to a quart. £ I Dairy farmers who contracted to sup- ■ ply certain quantities daily to firms in the city and in the •suburbs have been unable to comply with the conditions, reduced quantities (being, tb.eL>prde£. With fa view to augmenting their supplies they are increasing their herds where, possible, but they are still faced shortage of feed, the hay, turnipe^'sid I other hand feed being nearly finished. i When this is gone there will be a'further serious decrease in the quantity of milk available, and with little hope of any benefiting influence to relieve the' position, with the exception of: an .early spring, relief cannot possibly be expected until the end of August, "if the latter ' hope is not realised the position by the middle of July will call for drastic measures. ; Vendors generally are doing their l>eit to supply sufficient milk to the nous* \holds .where "there are children and inv»[lids, but families of adults are'on veif (short rations indeed. Yesterday Mr. T. H. Chapman, of the firm of Araburys, Ltd., and a member of the executive of the Milk Vendors' Asm- , ciation, made the'following statement o> ■ the shortage: ."I think it is time whet' : public institutions, boardinghouses, retI taurants, and other large consumers of I milk should, as far as possible, practise ■ economies with their use of milk. A further conference will be necessary within ' the next fortnight, and I should not be surprised if for a few weeks the price of milk] is raised to 7d a quart, in order ''i' that the farmer may be compensated for i the cost of extra feed necessary in order ito keep up the present supply of milk."