124 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [P. D. 4. 



and chapter 259, defining pasteurized milk and regulating its 

 sale. Chapter 256 we believe to be a step in the right direc- 

 tion, but as amended and finally passed its usefulness was 

 greatly impaired. 



The Dairy Situation. 

 It has been the policy of this department for years to make 

 clear to the consumer the food value of milk in the hope that 

 increased consumption would ultimately result in making milk 

 production independently profitable. We have opposed all 

 schemes which tended to discourage people from using milk, or 

 to encumber the business with needless expense. During the 

 early autumn months of 1917 the Massachusetts public, becom- 

 ing accustomed to the general advance in food prices, ap- 

 parently viewed with a fair degree of equanimity the proposed 

 advance in milk prices, and it looked as though the milk busi- 

 ness might, at last, be placed on a satisfactory basis. The New 

 England Milk Producers' Association had demanded 8 cents a 

 quart delivered in Boston, and that price was approved by the 

 Food Administrator. Suddenly one of the large dealers made a 

 proposition to sell milk in some 50 stores for 10 cents a quart, 

 provided 10 tickets costing SI were purchased. This propo- 

 sition, which was at first agreed to by the Food Administrator, 

 was later canceled. Previously, in both New York and Chicago, 

 the producers had made demands in a manner which resulted 

 in prejudicing the public mind against paying advanced prices 

 for milk anywhere. The Federal Food Administration finally 

 called for the establishment of regional boards to investigate 

 the cost of milk production and milk distribution, and to fix 

 prices. The contracts made between the dealers and the New 

 England Milk Producers' Association for milk to be delivered in 

 Boston at 8 cents per quart were suspended, and 7f cents per 

 quart was decided upon as the price to be paid producers, 

 pending the investigations, and the assurance was given that 

 the prices would be made on a basis of reasonable profit to the 

 producer. (Since the above was written the regional board has 

 fixed the price to producers at 8^ cents per quart for milk de- 

 livered in Boston during January, February and March, and the 

 retail price to family trade, delivered, at 14| cents per quart.) 



