New Hampshire Farmers May Retail Milk in Boston

1916

Manchester, N. H., Sept. 23. — Officers of the New England Milk Producers' association went into conference here tonight with regard to price and the distribution of milk in Boston, and it is apparent that the deliberations will continue past midnight.

The present situation was brought about by the association recommending to the farmers of New England that they insist upon 50 cents a can of 8 1-2 quarts, this price giving the producer one-half a cent per quart more than the price he is now receiving.

Thus far only one large firm distributing milk at retail has consented to pay the price asked, although another big company, which handles milk by wholesale only, has been paying the price now asked for several weeks. A spirit of extreme optimism prevails the gathering here tonight and no doubt was expressed but that all of the distributors will accede to the demand which is being insisted upon by the farmers.

"Our object in meeting tonight is to encourage the farmers to stick for the price which has been demanded, but in the event of all of the distributors refusing to comply with the advance in price, to arrange ways and means for distributing the milk in Boston," said Pres. Richard H. Pattee. "We don't want to pour milk on the ground," he continued, "and we want Boston people to have it, and believe that ways will be found for getting it to the consumers. The farmers are holding together almost as a unit in asking for the new price, and we can find only an isolated instance here and there where a farmer has signed to deliver milk to a contractor at the old price."