Price of cream up a third

Press, 15 April 1980, Page 2

Price of cream up a third

f Parliamentary reporter Hard on the heels of last week’s increase in sugar prices has come another blow to those with a sweet tooth — the price of cream will increase by a third from May 1. The increase, announced yesterday by the Undersecretary to the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Talbot), will mean that the usual 300 ml bottle will cost 40c (at present 30c). ■' A 600 ml bottle Will cost 80c (at present 60c), and the small 150 ml bottle will cost 20c (15c). •f Cream prices were last Increased on October 1, 1977, and in the inter-

vening two years and a half cream had been “a bargain,” Mr Talbot said, but costs had ' finally caught up with it. - “In recent months, the Milk Prices Authority has granted increases in margins to milk stations and milk vendors which will cost just over $1 million a year,” he said. “Cream is not subsidised and, with other associated cost increases including an additional 1.5 c a 300 ml bottle in the handling margin for shop dairies and an increase in return to producers, a price increase cannot be avoided.”