The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-02-07
PRODUCERS OF MILK SAY RECENT PRICE CUTS
HAVE NOT Been PASSED ALONG TO CONSUMER

Stating that the recent cut to the
milk producers of SO cents a hundred
weight had not been reflected in the
drop Of consumers milk prices, men,
bers of the Richmond Milk Producers
association, meeting in the county
agents office Saturday, stated that if
any cuts were necessary, they should
De passed along to the consumer. This
mas not been done, they say, the cut
therefore actually increasing the dis
trlbutor's margin of profit. This mat
Ter Is presented, the figures to support
1t IN a statement given out by the
directors after the meeting.
In the winter of 1880 the pro-
Queer of milk in the vicinity of Rich
mond was receiving $3.50 per 100
POUNDS for his milk and the consumer
was paying seven cents per pint and
IL cents per quart. In other words,
the producer was getting about seven
cents per quart and the consumer was
laying Is. In the spring of the year
change was made. The distributors
undertook to lower the price to the
producers without any change to the
consumers. This move was vigorously
opposed by the producers and the mat
ter was compromised. one distributor
raised the price to $3.50 per hundred
and the retail price to eight cents and
10 cents. Another put the milk on a
test and paid $3.50 for milk which
would test AZ butter fat and add or
subtract 5 cents per tenth per cent
ABOVE or below this test. This meant
that they raised the price provided
thew nllt r31ill uyIi oI,
or better and lowered the price if the
milk which they put out was 3.7ea or
lower. Nevertheless they informed all
OF their consumers that the raise of
$1.OO per hundred pounds to the con-
sumner was caused by the questionable
raise to the producer of at the most
10 cents per hundred pounds. The
producers were conciliated for this
action by statement that they would
be guaranteed price of $500 per hun
dred during the winter of 1920.21
without any increase to the consuming
public
Claim Promise Ignored.
This last promise was not only ig-
nored, but the price of milk has been
lowered to the producer in the last 80
days 60 cents per hundred pounds and
| pounds provided he buys in quarts If
! he only wants pint he pays the old
! price
| After hearing the report of the direc-
! tors, the members approved by unan-
| imons vote, of "all that had been
done and all that should be done in
future. The activities of the direc-
! tors have been concerned with form
ing the association and getting all the
producers to join, They reported that
a very large part of the producers
| were members Of the association
Several more signed up at the meet
| ing.
| The object of the organization ac-
cording to the constitution, is to Dut
the business of dairying on stable
basis in this neighborhood, so that
Richmond may be assured constant
supply of pure milk. produced accord
/ ing to state regulations. with a fair
profit to the producer which will insure
: his remaining in the business. and
with unnecessary expenses eliminated
so that it may be as cheap as possible
| to the consumer.
| Claim Losses.
There are intimations by some
rlerhers that not all the milk coming
! to Richmond now, is produced in com
pliance with state inspection, and open
assertions by all that none is produced
at a price that will enable them tc
continue in the business.
How can We hone to STAY in bust
ness and sell as we have been?' asked
| a producer.