MILK MARKETING

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 93, 17 October 1934, Page 19

MILK MARKETING

DISSATISFIED GROUP

WEST RIDING PRODUCERS

(From "Tha Post's" Representative) LONDON, September 5.

A stormy scene ia reported to havo occurred at a mass meeting of West Riding milk producers at Leeds. It ended ia the chief speaker, Mr. Thomas Baxter, head of the Milk Markoting Board, loaving the platform. Eight hundred farmers attended to hear the viows of the board on tho operation of tho scheme as it affected tho West Kiding. At present this section ia grouped for prices with Lancashire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, and Derbyshire, and it is contended that this is unfair to the Yorkshire producers. Mr. R. W.. Addison, of Bingley (chairman of the West Riding Farniors' Union) presided, and he outlined the negotiations which had taken place between the West Biding Farmers* Union and the Milk Markoting Board and declared: " We arc under tho impression that before tho scheme can be a success in the West Kiding it .will be necessary that there should be some adjustment in regard to the regions. We have emphasised that point as far as our ability would go." Mr. Baxter reminded the meeting that he tad gone to Leeds just over a year ago to try to placate the milk producers-retailers—a section of tho industry who seemod to think they would come out of the milk-marketing scheme worse off than anyone else. Now he understood there were no misgivings about the position of the producer-retailers, but that the principal dissatisfaction came from the farmers who sold milk to the wholesalers. Tho result of the poll which decided the fate of the scheme was an enormous majority in favour of it, he pointed out; a far bigger majority than any of them had expected voted for the scheme. THREAT AND CONSEQUENCE. Mr. Baxter added that if the system of individual selling for the best prices that could be got had continued for another year he had not the slightest doubt that in a very short time prices would have broken completely. The producer would have had to stand a very substantial part of the loss involved. Mr. J. M. Rayner (Leeds) said it was clear from Mr. Baxter's 6peoch that the West Eiding was not to reccivo any preferential treatment. They had proved their case time and time again. Dr. Ruston's figures of-'the cost of production had been accepted by tho board, but they still did nothing to satisfy them. ''I do not want Mr. Baxter to go away undor the delusion that tho West Eiding is going to suppor.t the Milk Mnrketing Board under the present conditions. Opposition in tho past has been passive, but in the future it will be organised and on different lines. If it does come to open opposition the responsibility will be on the board, bocauai "it.has refused to do anything." Interrupting Mr. Rayner, Mr. Baxter jumped up and said:—-"You are bo-, ginning to threaten. You can't expect meio stay and listen to this.- I have to return on the 5.17 train. If you arc. :going to take-up this attitude, I must, leave you to it;" After Mr. Baxter had left the meeting, Mr. Addison protested against aiiy suggestion thai ftie Situation. ; might cause :oj>split i»; the ■ N.F.U.. "No one ia mVro dissatisfied with the scheme than I am," ho said, "but I am terrified to thtiik what will happen if we break away.at this juncture. Disappointing th<!jtign\ prices, are, they will fall if we ar«:;4&Vmake; nidi-; vidual bargains. It would nbt : even be; sixpence a gallon." ,