HIGHER PRICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 126, 31 May 1938, Page 11

HIGHER PRICE.

CITY MILK SUPPLY.

REQUEST BY PRODUCERS.

THREAT OF DIRECT ACTION.

Determined efforts are to be made by milk producers to gain a higher price for the supply of milk to the Auckland metropolitan area. Eighty producers attended a meeting in the Chamber f of Commerce yesterday when "the matter was fully discussed, and threats were made pf direct action by withholding the supply of milk. A tribunal to fix a fair price was also suggested, while the question of the more remunerative production of cheese was canvassed.

The chairman, Mr. P. G. Wyman, said that a previous meeting in April had recommended direct and forceful methods, but this meeting had been called to consider more constitutional means.

Mr. C. J. Lovegrove, one of the producers' representatives, on the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council, said there was perpetual war on the council between the producers and the consumers. "Consumers' representatives have made up their minds that there will be no increase in the price to the public," he said, in urging those present to produce figures which could not be attacked.

Mr. R. H. Ockleston, the other producers' representative on the council, stated that in the returns to hand eight farmers out of a total of 128 had estimated their cost of production at under 6d a gallon, 24 at over 1/, some going as high as 1/6. About 23 per cent of the returns gave the figure at from Cd to 8d a gallon.

Mr. J. Littlejohn, president of the North Shore group of the association, was of .opinion that the suggestion should be made to the Milk Council that an independent tribunal should be set up to fix the price of milk, and a resolution to this effect was'carried.

Several speakers supported the suggestion of taking direct action as the best way of ventilating their grievances.

A resolution that a committee should be set lip to form a compulsory association of all producers licensed to the Milk Council was carried unanimously. Three delegates from the Auckland Wholemilk Producers' Association, the North Shore and East Tainaki groups, and the Auckland Fresh Milk Producers and Vendors' Association were appointed to the committee, with Mr. Wyman as convener.