THE PRICE OF MILK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23830, 9 June 1939, Page 15

THE PRICE OF MILK

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—l would like to thank your correspondent A. Spoor for his letter in this morning’s paper, as it puts a different light on the price of milk question. Had the producers been getting the benefit of the increase I would not have complained, as I know what dairy farming is, especially in the winter. If the producers are receiving lid per gallon, and it is retailed at 7d a quart, it leaves the retailer Is 5d per gallon to cover his expenses for delivery, etc. This seems to be excessive, and calls for some inquiry I fail to see why it costs more to retail milk in the winter than the summer, unless it .is that the registration of motor vehicles falls due in May and the retailers expect the consumers to pay extra lor this! Perhaps the manager of a large retailing company in this town could give us his explanation or the increase. I have always contended that the middle man in many ways exploits both the producer and consumer, and to help my contention let me conclude with the following extract from this morning’s Times: “Surely there must be some way of closing the gap between consumers and producers’ prices, s'- that both may have a decent standard if jiving, said the president (Mr I. L. M. Coop) in his address to the Farmers Union Conference in Christchurch last week Sheepfarmers, he continued, were selling ewe; mutton at Id to 2d a lb. yet the retail price was 6d to Bd. Wool was sold! this season at 6d to Is a lb, but If a consumer had a loom and wanted to buy wool ready for wearing he had to pay 8s a lb. —I am, etc., F. O. G. Dunedin, June 7.