SUMMER MILK

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 134, 3 December 1926, Page 6

SUMMER MILK

PRICE HALFPENNY LESS

SATISFACTORY FINANCES,

The retail price of milk is to be reduced by _d per quart for the summer period, from a date to be arranged in December. The City Council last night approved of a lecommeu.lation to this effect by the Milk Committee. It was necessary, said the chairman of the committee, Councillor W. 11. Bennett, to estimate receipts and expenditure during the summer and winter periods in order that tho coupon system might operate through the department's agencies. "Fortunately for us, but most unfortunately for the country generally, continued Councillor Bennett, '"tho price of milk products on which the basic price for our purchase of milk and cream, is fixed, has been much lower on the Home market than for many years. It is felt by my committee that we should consider■ our position and with a view of helping the producer hy stimulating a greater consumption of what is known to bo one of tho best goods in existence, and a.so giving the people tho benefit of the lower 'ost, wo have decided to recommend o the council the reduction in price ■or quart by one half-penny for the ■alanco of the summer period. "Wo have sufficient profit in sight .0 meet all our usual allotments as well as to meet any winter loss, our policy :'.s you know, being to make the sum■iiov profits bear sonic of the extra cost .hiring the winter when our product ::osts us S5 per cent, above that cf the. cummer period. Though ono half--enny reduction does not mean a great -.leal to tho average householder, the council will be interested to know that it means a very large amount to us, „ur profit being less by £1225 per month.';. To give effect to the recommendation will cause the department and the public some little- inconvenience inasmuch that it will bo neces-,-,ary to take stock of all our agencies to 'make the change. It will be necessary to thoroughly notify .the public so that they can fit their coupon supply in with the term.- There are many reasons why wo cannot change the coupons in" the. middle of a season. Might I add that perhaps the low irico being received for milk products may bring dairying land back to its legitimate value, although many unfortunates will not get tho .benefit." Councillor G. A. Troup congratulated the chairman of the committee upon the finances of the milk concern, referring to the fact that', a year ago there had been a debit of £600, which now had' been turned into a credit of £2771, despite adverse conditions.