PRICE OF MILK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17782, 16 May 1921, Page 6

PRICE OF MILK.

STATEMENT ) BY- RETAILERS.

- OPPOSITION TO INOREASE. The position •in regard' to the price of milk in Auckland, from the retailers' point of .-.View/- was stated ■pp. Saturday by* Mr.;-'&.""E. .Tansley,..-.'.president of theAuckland and $ n o»Vban ft - Yendora' Afißociation. > • '," \. : ' i ' { . '■■■ inXreferrnig- to between of the producers .-and retailers, held on Friday, Mr, Tansley said .that'.-, some .jmislvading,, statements had "been made, j" The ; nujk producers," he $iid, " w,er,e expecting to" obtain 4d per gallon- .more for . their milk for months. May to- August inclusive, but at Friday'a meeting, presided over by iMr. W- G. McDonald, chanrman of the Board of Trade, a suggestionVwas made that the rise should not exceed 2d per gallon, and .that tlje vendor should not raise the price !to ■ The representatives of the milk producers did not even agree to the'suggestiohi but are considering the mattery The retailer cannot pay a higher price vfor milk without charging the con* sfimer higher price. The vendors 'contend .that any - rise in price, either wholesale or retail, is not justified. When the price was fixed fo? the spring .and, summer months, it was on the basis of the Value of butter-fat, and it is com - mon knowledge thilt the value of butter' to-day is much less than it was when the summer-price was settled, and yet the producers demand a higher price. VThe milk Tendors offered tp continue the prosent price for the four months above referred to, and have not made any rug. gestion that the farmers should receive less than they are being paid at present. The time for hip-ber prices has gone by, and the proposed increase is not justified, and it is time the consumer had pome fay in the matter." /