PRICE OF MILK

Evening Star, Issue 24466, 30 March 1943, Page 2

PRICE OF MILK

MEETING OF VENDORS DRASTIC ACTHM PROPOSED If a motion carried by a meeting of the Dunedin Milk Vendors' Association yesterday afternoon is put into effect, the price of milk will be increased to 7d a quart as from April 11. and this in face of a refusal by the Price Tribunal to a request that an early increase be allowed. The meeting was somewhat stormy, and some hard things were said about the Price Tribunal and the unsympathetic ear it had turned towards the association's representations. The meeting was presided over by Mr G. Currie. The secretary produced correspondence between the association and the tribunal dealing with the subject, which dated back to last August, together with copies of telegrams exchanged between the parties last week. The association had requested that the winter price of 7d become operative as from April 1. or until the findings of a recently-appointed commission set up by the Government to inquire into the. whole industry became operative. This was the text of a resolution passed last week at a meeting of members. The Price Tribunal telegraphed back saying it regretted it was unable to authorise any higher prices than those ruling last winter? the winter period to operate from the same date as last year. The tribunal also stated that, the Government had set up a commission, and no doubt that commission would givo the association every opportunity to make representations to it, if so desired. The irony, conscious or otherwise, of the latter portion of the tribunal's telegram was not lost upon members, who considered the tribunal had made no effort in the past to give proper consideration to their requests. Speakers pointed out that it was ridiculous that the winter period price should ho limited to three months, as all farmers knew there had to be handfesding of stock for at least six months of the year, and supplementary feeding meant considerably increased production costs. The meeting talked at some length on a proposal to strike—in other words, to refuse to bring milk into town if the Government rebuffed their request. It was -pointed out that the price allowed in Dunedin was below that granted in the north, where production costs were lower, while" in Aucklaud the vendors were given a six months' winter period. Mr E. Calder, secretary of th's Otajjo branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, who was called to the meeting after it started, said the Farmers' Union was behind the producers and vendors in their demand for an increase and for a lengthier period, providing the increase went to the producers. He was assured this would be the position. The union, Mr Calder said, / was unable to understand the discrepancy between the prices in the north as compared with those ' ill the south. The position was ridiculous. There was further talk of sending another deputation to Wellington, but the secretary (Mr J. W.-Wilson) said 'it cost them £SO to take the last deputation there, and then the tribunal turned round and 6aid an application for an increase, had never been lodged. It was a waste of time, he considered. , After further discussion it was decided to telegraph the Prime- Minister direct that the price of milk in Dunedin was going to be put up to 7d a quart as from April 11, and to circularise all- vendors to that effect.