CITY MILK PRICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23152, 26 September 1938, Page 14

CITY MILK PRICES

HIGHER SCALE SOUGHT PRODUCERS' CONFERENCE DOMINION BODY FORMED The establishment of a united I Join inion body of city milk producers was decided upon at a conference held in trie last few days at Wellington and attended by farmer delegates from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunediu. It was stated last night by one of the Auckland delegates, Mr. X. I}. Davenport, president of the Auckland Fresh Milk Producers and Vendors' Association, that the unsatisfactory prices paid for city milk throughout the Dominion was the reason for calling together the representatives of the producers' organisations in the main centres. Delegates pointed out that in no country of the world was more wholesome milk produced for human consumption than in New Zealand, and yet producers were not obtaining the cost of production. In endeavouring to obtain regular supplies from their herds throughout the whole year, producers were finding present prices unremunerative, it was stated. General dissatisfaction was expressed with the methods at present followed when fixing tho price of city milk, and the following resolution was carried unanimously:—"That this conference of milk producers' representatives expresses the opinion that the. cost ot production should be tho basis for the fixation of prices for city milk supply-" The uneconomic method followed by groups of farmers in sending surplus quantities of milk to the large vending firms was also severely criticised, stated Mr. Davenport, and it was agreed that until such producers took caro of their own - surplus unsatisfactory prices would prevail. "As a result of this conference, and the formation of a strong united body, city milk producers throughout the Dominion will be in a much stronger position to obtain a fair return for their labour," stated Mr. Davenport.