MILK REPORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24825, 23 February 1944, Page 6

MILK REPORT

PRODUCER'S VIEW "BITTERLY . DISAPPOINTED" ,"All town milk producers will bo bitterly disappointed with the report of the Milk Commission, and with_ the Government's reception of it," said Mr. C. >JLovegrove, a producers' representative on the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council, yesterday. "Town milk producers in this area have long considered that they should get a figure much m excess of the average price provided for in the new schedule. Many farmers during the past three years have diverted their supply to butter-fat production, and I am convinced this movement will be accelerated." It was not an over-statement to say that the prices announced had been greeted with considerable di sa PP°' nt " ment and resentment, added Mr. Lovegrove. A United States economic commission's report had revealed that the increase in prices obtained by primary producers in that country since September 1, 1939, was 39 per cent, a 19 per cent increase being given before the entry of the United States into toe war and 20 per cent since then. Had the farmers of New Zealand been as well organised as those in America, more substantial justice might have been done jto them in meeting the rising tide ot costs. Effect ot Test

The adoption of a standard test of 4.3 per cent butter-fat, stated Mr. Lovegrove, would eliminate at_ least 80 per cent of the herds being milked for this trade. To produce such a test in the spring, a cow would have to bo an abnormally high butter-fat producer, and her test in the later period of lactation would rise to 6 per cent or over. Indeed, it would be difficult for firstclass Jersey herd to achieve a 4.3 test in the spring for morning's milk. In the Auckland district there were large numbers of Holstein, Ayrshire and Shorthorn cows which could not at any time yield milk with a 4.3 butter-fat content. In any case, it would not pay a farmer to sel'l such high-testing milk at the price fixed, and he would be much better off on factory supply. It was interesting to note, concluded Mr. Lovegrove, that the Health Department's requirement was 3.25 per cent butter-fat, and that of the Milk Council 3.5 per cent fat. No oountry in the world sold standard milk with a fat content in excess of 3.5, yet the producers were called upon for a product with a minimum of 4.3 per cent. Council's Eeserves Another member of the council, Mr. J. J. Mulvihill, said that, as producers were now being charged with the responsibility of ensuring an adequate supply —no mean task in the off season —apparently the functions of the Milk Council would be limited to the supervision of the quality of milk and conditions of tion," ho said, "I think it should immediately utilise its liquid reserves, some £II,OOO, created for this purpose, in the erection of a laboratory."

PRISONERS OF WAR - CORRECT LETTER ADDRESSES AVOIDANCE OF DELAYS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday The Postmaster-General, the Hon. P. C. Webb, stated to-day that the High Commissioner, Mr. W. J. Jordan, had reported that, owing to the inclusion of unnecessary details in addresses, difficulty was being experienced in redirecting letters to prisoners of war formerly in Italy. It was not necessary to include the prisoner's former camp address, or the words "New Zealand Expeditionary Force," only the prisoner's service number, rank, initials, surname and his British prisoner-of-war number, if known, followed by the words "care 415, the Strand, London, W.C.2," written as close as possible to the bottom of the envelope or lettercard.

The usual superscription "prisoner of war post ("and") Kriegsgefangenpost" should appear in the top left-hand corner- If the man's number was not known, space should be left. The Minister added that these instructions were for men formerly in Italy only. Where the camp address was known, it should be used, a.s sending such letters care of the High Commissioner's Office caused delay. Where the writer desired to communicate with a prisoner of war who was not a New Zealander, "care International Red Cross. Genera," was permissible.

BODY OF BABY FOUND POLICE ARREST WOMAN A woman was arrested in Auckland yesterday and will appear in the Police Court to-day to face a charge arising out of the discovery of the body of a male European babv, between live and 10 days old. lying near the Main Trunk railway track, about three miles north of Mangaweka, on the afternoon of December 20.

Following a pathological examination of the body, the police suspected that the child was on a train passing the spot the previous night or early in the morning of December 20. Passengers who travelled on the Main Trunk expresses between Wellington and Auckland on the night of December 19 were asked to communicate with the police should they have noticed anything unusual in the conduct of a passenger who joined the train with a baby, which cried frequently during the journey. PRICE OF WATER A suggestion to call a meeting of representatives of the Mount Albert, Newmarket and New Lynn Borough Councils to analyse the proposed revision of water charges was adopted at a meeting of the Mount Eden Borough Council last night. The deputy-Mayor, Mr. J. Mulvihill, and the acting-town clerk, Mr. H. Gribble. were appointed delegates Mr. Mulvihill said the price of water charged by the City Council to the four local bodies would come up on July 2 for renewal for the next seven vears. Ho knew that, the City Council had produced voluminous figures to support an increase in the price or, at least, stabilisation of the present charges.