Protesting Farmers May Dump Milk

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32351, 17 July 1970, Page 24

Protesting Farmers May Dump Milk

(Neu> Zealand Preet Association) HAMILTON, July 16. Thousands of gallons of first-grade milk may be poured into rivers and streams in Waikato on August 10 if the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company does not support the Waikato Farmers’ Action Committee.

The committee, which is believed to have the support of several hundred throughout the Waikato, has threatened to withhold milk supplies until August 10 in pro test against rising costs.

But the dairy company today reiterated its decision that it would not make special trips on that day, or any other day, to delayed collections.

“This is our stand and we will not deviate from it,” said the company’s general manager (Mr A. H. Woolven). Protesting farmers are also standing their ground, however, and have threatened to dump their day’s milk into Waterways throughout the province if the dairy company does not relent. A member of the action committee, Mr J. D. Wright, intimated that he and other farmers were contemplating withdrawing their support from any company which refused to collect the milk later than usual on August 10. Mr Wright said it was possible that the farmers’ action could be repeated on August 17. “If this doesn’t bring some results we are contemplating more drastic action," he said. “We may ask farmers to withhold all farm produce, but this would have to be put forward at a further series of protest meetings.” Mr Wright said the protest leader, Mr A. E. Symons, who is now in hospital, had received an unsympathetic

hearing at a New Zealand Dairy Company committeemen’s meeting last week. “But the fact remains that meetings of farmers throughout the district still continue to support the action committee’s decision,” he said. “We are not going back now. We must make farming profitable. We expect dairy companies to work in with us.”