PRICE OF MILK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22403, 27 April 1936, Page 13

PRICE OF MILK

*d A QUART INCREASE OPERATION NEXT MONTH BENEFITS TO THE TRADE ASSISTANCE FOR PRODUCERS A decision to increase the retail price of milk in Auckland by Jd a quart was reached at a meeting of the Metropolitan Milk Council on Friday. The new rates will be ojd a quart for loose milk and 6d for bottled milk, or 3d a pint in either form. Notice of the increase must be given, and it will not come into force until Sunday, May 10. The chairman, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, moved a resolution at Friday's meeting to increase the price by id a quart. Notiqc of this motion has been before the council for four months. Its purpose was to give the vendor an increased margin sufficient to restore the 10 per cent cut to Roundsmen, but the resolution has not hitherto been put to the council, pending the receipt of notice of a binding award embodying the increased wages. Notice was received on Friday that an award had been made by the Arbitration Court, including a restoration of the cut, and it would come into effect on the date on which the price was increased. Farmers' Difficulties After lengthy discussion in committee, Mr. A. C. Trousdale, one of the producers' representatives, moved an amendment that had the effect of increasing prices by id a quart, or 2d a gallon. Of this 2d, the vendor would get Id, as in the chairman's motion, and the producer Id. The price would apply for the four winter months only, during the most difficult time of the year for the producer. In supporting the amendment, Mr. J. S. Montgomerie, the second producers' representative, said he was very reluctant to increase the price, but farmers had been getting an even worse deal than roundsmen. It would be hardly possible for them to go through the winter without an increase. Their expenses had been increased recently by the necessity to modernise their sheds. They were not getting the costs of production. The amendment was carried, Mr. H. F. W. Meikle recording his vote against it. Restoration of Levy The only types of milk which will not be subject to the increase will be supplies to hospitals, shipping and milk for ice cream. The resolution also restored the council's levy on milk sold to id a gallon, from which it was reduced last year. The extra id a gallon involved will be taken from the producer, to whose margin it was added last year, so that the actual gain of the producer from the resolution will be *d a gallon. Retail prices for cream in cartons remain the same as before, and a new schedule has been introduced for loose cream, which will be sold at 5d for quarter pints, 9d for half pints and Is 4d for'pints. The quantity is in each case greater than would be received in cartons at the same price.