One of the most interesting industrial disputes which we have
had for some time is that between the Farmers' Union and the Federation of Milk Distributors, which in practice means the great milk trust of the United Dairies, Ltd. The farmers refuse to enter into the new winter contract which the distributors propose, and by which there would be a reduction of 2d. a gallon in the price of wholesale milk. Unless a settlement is reached by October 1st the distributors will refuse to handle the milk, and the farmers are attempting to organize a distributing service of their own and in conjunction with Co-operative Societies. So it looks as if the great milk trust was going to be shown that two can play at the game of monopolies. However, as usual, it will be the public that suffers, and it is to be hoped that this dispute will result in something more than a mere patched-up settlement by compromise on each side. We incline to the view that the milk distributors have now reached a point of monopoly in an essential service in which some- thing should be done to regulate and control them either by State action, or preferably by the co-operative action of the farmers themselves.
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