MILK SHORTAGE

Northern Advocate, 25 July 1935, Page 3

MILK SHORTAGE

IVERCARGILL STRESS. CONTROL COUNCIL WANTED. {Per press Association. — Cnvyrlght.l INVERCARGILL, This Day. The fear of a milk famine in Invercargill within the next six weeks was expressed by a deputation of retail and wholesale dealers to the Minister of Industries and Commerce, the Hon. R. Masters, yesterday. Reference was made to the irregular marketing of milk and price-cutting and it was stated that there had been no inducement for nearby farmers to embark on winter milking, with the result that retailers could not get sufficient milk and were compelled to go further afield for supplies. One retailer stated that whereas his normal winter requirements were 50 gallons or more daily, the most he could get was 14 gallons. So acute was the position last week that he endeavoured to arrange for an additional supply from Dunedin, but was not successful. The position, it was asserted, seemed to be that as soon as retailers fixed a price reasonably remunerative, fresh competition cut it at lower prices, with the result that it was no longer worth anyone’s while to organise a continuous supply.

The deputation stated that it intended to ask the City Council to establish a Milk Council on lines similar to the Council in Auckland. Mr Masters stated that the matter must first be dealt with by the City Council. If that body approved the proposal it would entail legislative provision for the creation of a milk council.