THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi.` FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1375.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2116, 15 October 1875, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi.` FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1375.

Ik yesierday's Star " Fairplay" professes to deal with "Enquirer's " letter as to the price of milk, but in reality he has only made out a poor apology for the existing combination. We have no desire to enter into a controversy:with the combined milkmen as to whether they were justified by necessity in arranging for a Higher price at which they could retail pure milk, to their customers. We look upon the milk trade as upon other industries, and we are prepared to admit that the.arguments in favor of an increased price are substantiated by at. least a section of those-engaged in the business. But surely our local milkmen, like our grocers and; bakers, are not all in a state of impecuniositj. If their trade only enables them with an advanced price to make both ends meet, how were they able to effect this before the combination was agreed upon ? . Possibly the answer will be that the milk retailed to customers •was adulterated. But then it happens that one milkmarnvrote to the papers and stated distinctly that he had- never adulterated his milk. If, therefore, this con- . scientious vendor of milk was'able during J a winter season, and other seasons., for that matter, to retail.pure milk at sixpence per quart, how comes it that under more favorable circumstances he finds it necessary to charge eightpcnce r per quart for the same article ? If -this question were satisfactorily answ.ered we might be- disposed'to accept the combination as a matter of necessity. If the seller of milk at sixpence per quart—pure milk, as stated —could carry .on business against all competitors, he must be. doing a roaring trade now that he gets twenty-five per cent, more for his produce. We do not say thafc the milkmen are getting.an undue advantage of the public by their combination, but we do say that if any one'milkman could, as stated, sell pure milk at. sixpence per quart before the combination was entered into, he must be making a large profit under the combination price. Bis not that the public wish to deprive milkmen of. their just dues that such as " write, but they •want to be satisfied that the combination is riot the'result of a conviction arrived at by the milkmen that they have,the game in. their own hands and wish to- ' make the most of it while they can.