Evening star., 1943-01-09

Mi|kProducers
Ask2-CentR Rise
In Virginia Price

kISIng Oosts Lifted IN
Alexandra Hearing;
Consumers Hit Move
Milk producers and distributors
yesterday argued for two-cent-per-
quart increase in the retail price OF
milk in the Arlington Alexandria
area in a hearing before the Vir-
ginia State Milk Commission in
Alexandria City Hall.
Rising costs and a falling milk
supply were advanced by the pro-
ducer-distributor spokesmen, as rea-
sons for the increase, while con-
sumer representatives quoted re-
cent statement by Secretary of
Agriculture Wickard that "all meas
ures must be taken to lower the
cost of milk to consumers"
Off1cials of the Office of Price
Administration also attended to
question witnesses as did C. I. Dunn
Agriculture Department milk Official
and Maurice Rosenberg, Alexandria
delegate to the State Assembly.
The commission was composed of
DR.. Upton r. Snavely, chairman;
Mark Turner of Herndon represent
ing the producers and Claude Par
cell of Fredericksburg, the distrib-
utors' representative.
Wage Problem Cited.
B. B. Derrick, secretary of the
association, which is composed of
1878 member farmers, 125 of whom
deliver to the Alexandria, arlington
area, based his testimony on the
assertion that the law of supply and
demand is the governing factor and
that farmers are unable to maintain
production when they cannot afford
to pay labor wages that will compete
with industry.
He stated that the price increase
asked is "a per cent rise, whereas
farmers costs have gone up A per
cent since January, 194l.
Using a chart to illustrate his
point, Mr.. Derrick showed that
areas milk supply started to de-
cline in August and since November
has been far below demand. Sup
plies have been brought in from
other areas at an added cost of Sc
cents per hundredweight, but New
York and Pittsburgh have already
withdrawn supplies, and "A sources
contacted indicated that no more
outside milk is available for the
Washington area.
Declaring that all Freedrick (Md.)
distributors are insolvent and that
one had committed suicide, Mr..
Derrick further prophesied that If
the incentive Of price rise is not
given farmers, the area will soon
face a serious shortage.
Farmers Ask Increase.
Farm labor is asked to work 81
hours a week for SIS and farm fam
lilies work 86 hours a week. Mr.. Der
rick said. adding that As farms and
four distributors had gone out of
business in the area during the
past year.
Several farmers supported Mr.
Derrick's statements and adding
that the unskilled labor they were
able to afford was doing irreparable
damage to their herds. .-~
Distributors testified that their
costs were rising just as producers
were and since they had been asked
to absorb the rise given producers
in May, they felt Scent rise was
in order and should be passed on
to the consumers.
The independent distributors and
the consumer groups favored basing
the increase on butter fat content,
and the distributors association
asked for the increase on fluid meas
ure.
Consumers Oppose Move.
James Franklin, representing the
Arlington County Civic Federation,
and Glenn Richard. representing
the North Ridge Citizens Associa-
ton of Alexandria and the Arling-
ton alexandria Consumers Commit
tee. spoke for the consumer groups.
A telegram received from the
Fairfax County Federation of Citi-
zens Associations expressed the
groups opposition to any increase
Mr.. Richard based his arguments
on recent statement of Agricul-
ture Secretary Wickard which stated
that "a program of reducing the
costs of marketing milk is a war
time necessity. All measures
must be taken to lower the cost to
consumers" He pointed out that
it should be possible to announce
a number of specific milk market
ing economies on a national basis
by mid-January.
Consumer representatives con-
tended the commission should await
formation of national policy before
coming to any decision, and DR..
Snavely indicated that conferences
would be held with Federal officials
before anV ruling was nade