§ Mr. G. THORNE(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the discontent that exists in the minds of the people in London against the rationing of milk in many parts; and if he can make any statement as to the result of the Conference on milk?
The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Sir Arthur Boscawen)As the hon. Member is probably aware, the Conference of representatives of milk producers and milk distributors was held at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries yesterday. The Conference lasted from 4.30 yesterday afternoon to 2 a.m. this morning, when I regret to say no decision was reached. But this meeting has been resumed this morning and I still hope it may be possible to come to an agreement. At the outset proposals were made for raising the price of milk to the public from 5d. to 6d. a quart during April, May, and June, for which period a price of 5d. has been announced. I stated to the Conference that the Government could not be a party to any such arrangement, and this decision was accepted. I think it is probable that the price may be raised in July, but this is a matter over which I have no control.
Accepting this basis, efforts were made to arrange for a more equitable distribution of the 1s. 8d. a gallon between the distributors and the farmers. The distributors, in their final offer, proposed the following prices to be paid to the pro- 418 ducers for milk delivered in London from areas outside the home counties:
| April | … | 10d. a gallon. |
| May | … | 9d. a gallon. |
| June | … | 9d. a gallon. |
| July | … | 9d. a gallon. |
| August | … | 11d. a gallon. |
| September | … | 1s. a gallon. |
§ or an average of 10d. per gallon for the six months. This offer the representatives of the producers were not prepared to accept, since they are not willing to contract for a period of more than three months, and they asked for an average of 10d. for the first three months.
§ A statement will be sent to the Press after to-day's conference.
§ Sir FORTESCUE FLANNERYIs my right hon. Friend or anyone from his Department acting as mediator in connection with the Conference now being held at the office of the Ministry of Agriculture?
Sir A. BOSCAWENYes, Sir; throughout the Conference yesterday I was endeavouring to act as mediator. At the present time they are meeting among themselves, and I am prepared to go there as soon as my presence is required.
§ Mr. ROYCEDoes 10d. per gallon represent the net price, or does the producer have to pay the railway carriage?
Sir A. BOSCAWENIt is the price of milk outside the home counties delivered in London. The farmer, therefore, has to arrange to deliver the milk to the station, and pay the railway their freight.
§ Mr. MILLSIs it not a fact that the Derbyshire farmers have been offered 3d. a quart by the wholesale dealers in milk?
§ Captain BOWYERIn Buckinghamshire the price is 3d. per gallon net.
Sir A. BOSCAWENThere are of course a great many small dealers, who are not connected with these large organisations who met me yesterday, and I cannot answer for any individual offers which they may have made. Generally speaking, the offer has been 8d. per gallon for milk from outside the home counties delivered in London, and the proposal put forward by the distributors yesterday was that for six months the average price 419 should be 10d., which is an improvement from the producers' point of view of 2d. per gallon.