A dissertation upon the economic organisation of the fluid mile industry in England and Wales 1900 - 1954

Abstract

The story of the fluid milk industry (a term which I shall not attempt to define) during the past half century is indeed a rewarding source of study, for in it we may observe the working of almost every economic phenomenon and every form of economic organisation. We see an industry beginning in a state of absolute laissez-faire, and developing successively into a voluntary combination for collective bargaining purposes, a compulsory combination with statutory powers and a state controlledindustry under a centralised authority, finishing as a combination of the two latter; and being affected by and reacting to booms and depression, "dumping", under and. over production, free trade and protection, rationalisation and discriminating market policy. A more eventful history can hardly be envisaged. It is inevitable that a work of this nature should be primarily factual and historical: the very structure of the work is chronological. Nevertheless it is intended that critical comment and contemporary opinion will be included wherever possible. The immediate subject of this work, we have said, will be fluid milk. It would be unrealistic, however, to attempt to divorce this from the other products of the dairying industry, both because of the degree of substitution existing between the products and of the complex nature of the marketing organisations which have beenEvolved. The decision to deal with England and Wales only rather than Great Britain as a whole was dictated by the desire for simplicity of treatment and the availability of statistics. Except in two or three instances (which are clearly indicated) the figures quoted refer only to England and Wales.