CITY MILK SUPPLIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25213, 30 April 1943, Page 2

CITY MILK SUPPLIES

DAIRY FARMERS’ PROBLEMS

DOMINION COUNCIL PROJECT A proposal for the formation of a representative milk council for the whole of New Zealand was submitted to a meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers Union yesterday by a deputation from the Dairy Farmers’ Co-operative Milk Supply Company, which consisted of Messrs P. Ford and A. E. Shieffelbien. Mr Ford explained that, in comparison with northern centres, the Dunedin milk suppliers were considerably handicapped. Auckland, for instance, was allowed six months of winter prices, while Dunedin was allowed only three months. It was desired that the proposal should be placed before the Milk Commission when it sat in Dunedin. A committee consisting of dairy producers who were supplying milk to the city and representatives of the Farmers’ Union should first be appointed. Steps could then be taken to establish a Dominion Milk Council, which could work out the basic .prices for milk. Mr Shieffelbien said that, in addition to price questions, the council could deal with other problems relating to dairy farmers. „ ~ The chairman (Mr D. H. Cockburn) complimented the promotors of the company on the formation of an organisation of farmers on a co-operative W. Lee, J. W. Wilson, and G. B. Crawford were appointed to represent the Farmers’ Union on the committee. , .

Mr Ford said that his company represented 103 dairy farmers, and there were a further 40 or 50 supplying the various milk organisations in the city. It was announced that the Milk Commission would commence its sittings in Dunedin on May 11.