The Milk Strike Danger The milk dispute is looking undeniably
serious, and the possibility of a cessation of supplies at the end of next week is a disturbing prospect. As in all such cases, there is much to be said on both sides. Milk production in the main has been a paying proposition in recent years, with the usual result that supply has been increased till it outran demand. As a consequence prices tended to fall and the farmers are being offered a figure which they declare will not pay their costs. Unfortunately, this country has never been taught to demand good milk or to drink enough milk, and it is no doubt true that any increase of retail price tends to reduce consumption, to the detriment first of the distributor and ultimately, of course, of the farmer himself. Perhaps for that reason the distributors have made little concession in the present dispute, their offer of 13s. 9d. for twelve gallons for the year representing only an increase of 4d., or one-third of a penny a gallon, on existing prices. Milk is far too important a commodity to be-left at the complete mercy of producer and distributor: Some-Goverrunent interven- tion is necessary and the Milk Reorganization Committee is trying to determine how much. But with the milk trade an inch of intervention will almost inevitably become an ell. As far as the present dispute goes the distributors who are organized as the farmers are not must win in the end if it comes to a conflict.
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