THE PRICE OF MILK

Southland Times, Issue 25668, 10 May 1945, Page 2

THE PRICE OF MILK

Sir,—Mr J. Gibson Smith’s contention that “bona fide city milk producers have been underpaid for many years will not bear investigation; indeed, all the evidence is to the contrary. Ml’ Smith will remember the days when things were bad and farmers were saying that they would be satisfied if they could get 1/- per lb for their butterfat. The price they receive today is 50 per cent, higher than that—and more than double what they received during the slump. Presumably this is something like a fair thing, as farmers seem to be keeping clear of the bankruptcy court. My quarrel is not with them, however, and these facts are quoted as a basis upon which to consider the case of the farmers whose produce goes to a city supply. The producer who gets 1/2 per gallon for his milk thus receives almost exactly double the price he would receive if it were taken to a dairy factory, so he must be a bad manager if he cannot make ends meet, as the ordinary farmer (that is, the half-price chap) has to pay just the same prices for materials. The difficulties associated with a winter supply are appreciated, but it must be borne in mind that the ordinary farmer has to carry his stock through that season and gets, no return at all for it, while the city milk producer, despite his moans about the work involved, gets paid right through. The important point, however is that by virtue of producing this milk in winter- he qualifies as an all-the-year-round supplier, the reward for this being winter prices for his summer milk as well. Without this winter milk he would have to take the summer, produce to the dairy factory and get half the price for it. The milk producer who conducts his own city run and'has been charging 7d per quart for a very long timq (so I am told) is getting no less than four times the price he would get for the same milk at the dairy factory nearby. Can it fairly be said that he is underpaid? Or can the same be said for other city milk producers in view of the above facts? There is a perpetual squeal about having to rise early in the morning, as though hundreds of other workers on shifts did not have to commence work from midnight and 2 a.m. onwards, to say nothing of those like the Southland Times staff who have to work right through the night and do not set up a perpetual squeal about it. The producers who are getting double and four times the prices received by other farmers should thank their lucky stars that they have such a lucrative business which has enough freedom associated with it to permit their taking off the' greater part of any days they choose to visit the city, sales or other functions. This is not grudged them, but the observation is worth noting, as it is a privilege enjoyed by few others. They are amongst the highest-paid producers in the country, and it ill becomes them to agitate for more. NO SLINTERS.