ioo6 



Distribution of Milk. 



[JAN., 



is less than half the normal average consumption of the City 

 of New York. In many industrial centres there are known 

 to be whole streets where no fresh milk is taken. The increase 

 in the production of milk has not kept pace with the increase 

 in the population, the increases since 1891 being, respectively, 

 40 per cent, and 60 per cent., and this has led to a vast increase 

 in imported dairy produce, especially condensed and dried 

 milk. Dairy farming methods have not kept pace with the 

 developments brought about on the Continent. This is 

 ascribed to {a) the agricultural depression of the 'nineties of 

 last century ; [b) the slow development of co-operation 

 amongst farmers ; {c) the defective system of agricultural and 

 dairying education ; and (d) the almost total neglect of 

 research in dairying subjects. 



The Committee, while fully realising the essential difference 

 in national temperament between the population of the United 

 Kingdom and the population of continental countries, are 

 convinced that the dairying industry would be greatly benefited 

 by the adoption, with necessary modifications, of methods 

 which have given excellent results in other countries, and 

 recommendations are made accordingly. 



11. — Relation between Price and Consumption. — During the War 

 the increased cost of milk has tended to decrease consumption. 

 When the price of feeding stuffs rose the normal difference 

 between winter and summer costs of production was 

 accentuated. In order to safeguard the supply of winter 

 milk a much greater increase in price was necessary for that 

 period than for the summer, and this variation in price has 

 resulted in a greater variation in consumption than was 

 formerly the case. An unduly high price for milk is prejudicial 

 to the future of the dairying industry, for it not only reduces 

 consumption but makes it well-nigh impossible to compete 

 with the foreigner in the manufacture of dairy products. 



The Committee believe that it would be in the ultimate 

 interest of the consumer and would assist in an adequate 

 supply of winter milk if it became a recognised practice to 

 charge a higher price during the winter months, although 

 this would probably lead to a variation in consumption. 



In this connection the following table of the monthly varia- 

 tion in percentages of the total annual production, according 

 to the daily average during the years 191 7-1 8, is of interest : — • 



Jan. Feb, March. April. May. June. July, Aug, 

 5-9 6*0 6-9 8-1 IO-8 II-8 10*3 9*8 



Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 



9-1 8-3 7-1 5-9 = 100. 



