Market freedom

Published on 17/07/2012 00:00

Like many elders of the Kirk, I tremble at the sight of any letter from the Convener of the Church and Society Council, and sure enough the new appointee [the Rev Sally Foster-Fulton] maintains her predecessor’s “all heat and nae light” style of input (Letters, 14 July).

She uses the provocative expression “crude market forces”, as if it is self-evident there are obvious, more civilised alternatives. We are invited to believe supermarket chains are irrationally malevolent towards dairy farmers. This does not seem to apply in the case of fruit, vegetable or cereal producers, so a more logical assumption would be that there is something awry in the operation of the normal free-market arrangements.

Stephen Jardine’s equally unhelpfully emotive piece (same day) suggests there is indeed something wrong in the relationship between the processors and the supermarkets. If that is so, it needs to be put right.

It is bound to be an example of the market not operating freely. If people want to buy milk (demand) and farmers can produce it (supply) a free market will arrive at the appropriate price. If farmers don’t like that price they may need to consider producing something more profitable. Their position is no different to other producers.

Alan Oliver

Battock Road

Brightons