Milk producers get higher price

Press, 9 March 1984, Page 13

Milk producers get higher price

PA Wellington Town milk producers have been given an increase for the price of their milk. The increase, which has been gazetted, will restore the link with the price paid to dairy farmers whose products are used for manufactured products and for the export trade. The increases mean that town-milk producers will geti ® 18.7708 c a litre from September 1, 1983, to January 31, 1984. ® 22.5498 c a litre from February 1, 1984, to April 30, 1984.

0 28.2168 c a litre from May 1, 1984, to August 31, 1984.

The managing director of the Town Milk Producers’ Federation, Mr Bruce Neilson, said the increase would not make any difference to the consumer. He said his federation was pleased with the increase, although it still meant that it had not had any increase during the 1982-83 season, when the dairy industry had a record payout. The general manager of the Milk Board, Mr Hamish Turnbull, said the price that

consumers paid for milk would not change this year, since the industry would probably be able to live within its $3O million subsidy.

In June, 1982, it was given a substantial increase in the milk price in anticipation of increased charges, which did not eventuate because of the wage and price freeze. This had given the industry a breathing space, and though an increase in the consumer milk price was possible next year, none was likely this year.