THE PRICE OF MILK.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2100, 27 September 1875, Page 2

THE PRICE OF MILK.

(i!o the Editor of the Evening Star.)

Sih,—Were any illustration required of evil communications corrupting good morals it might be shown in the example; being followed by the milkmen set by the Government of forcing us to come to their tei'ms on the pretence that \t is for the public interest they do] so. We have, a combination of milkmen who say they cannot sell milk under eightpence per quart without adulterating it. Mr Walter, who has joined the combination, denies adulterating his milk. Will Mr Walker inform us whether he has been keeping that portion of the public he has supplied with milk (pure) at a loss to himself or not, for one statement must be incorrect. In the large towns in the old country Cows have t© be hand-fed from the time of calving until they have done milkinjj, and large sums of money are spent in buying or renting the freehold or.JeaseHold premises in which • they-". ar<s Housed, ten times as much 1 ■ beiii'g in some iusUnces paid as would

be here; and according to the market prices fodder being dearer at home than here, yet there dairymen can afford to sell mill at 4d per quart, and make a ; fortune from it in some instances. The inilkpans are inspected before, leaving the premises by inspectors appointed for that purpose, and I see no reason why a dairyman here is not able to sell milk at 4d per quart, for he has neither to buy his milk, butter, or meat unless he chooses, especially if he has been established some time here, so they hare everything in their favor as regards cheap living. For instance, they need notpay 2s 6d and more per pound for butter, neither need they pay for their meat, cheese, or pork 9d a pound, unless they like; for they generally hare tnose tilings at their own first cost, and when they tell us they charge 8d per quart from: pure philanthropy I call upon those whose names appear in your advertisements as proof to state the price of fodder here and in the home country for the last ten years. Few, if any here, have to entirely hand feed their cows, and even did they, milk could be sold here at a profit at 4d per quart; besides, it really will be no protection; a combination of milkmen raising the price, that milk will be anyt purer hereafter, for it is not likely any of * the combination will split on themselves.Having seen an article in your paper stating some persons down South, combined to refrain from drinking beer, wines, or spirits unless the publicans charge a reasonable price (6d per glass) the same as elsewhere, it struck me if that plan were adopted here in regard W milk, the parties adopting it would not only be conferring a favor on themselves but the public at large, or take as little milk as possible till the price is reduced—for the difference in price to any having a family would at the end "of a year, more than pay the Education rate, which many cannot now do. Besides, there can be no excuse for raising the price of milk now fine weather is coming and winter is over, as feed must now%e getting plentiful for cattle.—l am, &c.i,

Faib Pbicb.

Thames, Sept. 27.