Price of Milk.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 77, 29 March 1895, Page 2

Price of Milk.

Last week a series of meetings were held in the Waikato to consider the circular issued by Messrs Reynolds and Co.. asking for a reduction in the price ot milk as from the beginning of the season. At Te Awamutu, Mr parry Key nolds declared that the Danish butter ring in London were selling butter under cost simply to crush Reynolds and Co. The business was quite sound, and he asked the suppliers to co-operate with the company m fighting the battle with the ring. One supplier said he was agreeable to accept the inevitable, but he and other suppliers were determined that there should be reform in the testing of the milk. In auswer to a question, Mr Parley, the manager, said the estimated loss by Messss Reynolds and Co. for the season was £7OOO. Another supplier asked what would be the price next year, but Mr Reynolds did not know. The meeting eventually accepted the reduction. . - At Alexandra a meeting of suppliers decided unanimously to decline compliance with the circular, but were willing to accept 2Jd for March and April and up to the end of the season. Mr R. Reynolds explained how keenly he felt his position in having to come before them asking for a concession on the terms that had been agreed on at the beginning of the season, but it was unavoidable. The company were terribly handicapped, not only by the way the industry was fostered in Victoria by the Government, but by the fall in the price of butter in England, and the great increase of the home-made article in consequence of the mild season in England. The meeting, however, stood firm at its offer. The Te Kowhai settlers accepted the terms of the circular. The Whatawhat settlers resolved, " That this meeting is of opinion that in order to successfully compete in the European butter market, it has become imperative that the expenses of the management of this butter factory system be reduced, if possible, by onehalf, or thereabouts, or to something within a reasonable approach to (the cost of management of the Danish system of butter manufacture, and the milk suppliers to Messrs Reynolds and Co.'s creameries will then co-operate and meet tbem in any reasonable reduction of the future price of milk." They made the same offer as Alexandra.

Frankton suppliers offered to take a farthing less for the balance of the season.

Hamilton settlers rejected, the circular, one settler saying that if Beynolds and Co. were stuck for £2OOO he did not see how they were going to carry on, or of what ultimate use the concession would be.

An in'glewooa meeting decided to return an unqualified " no" to the circular.—Star.