THE BUTTER SUBSIDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1921, Page 4

THE BUTTER SUBSIDY.

QUESTION OF FINAL PAYMENT. REASON FOR THE DELAY. (By Wire.—Partiamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. The unpaid portion of the butter subsidy was mentioned in the House again to-day by Mr. H. Poland (Ohinemuri), who addressed a question on the subject to the Prime Minister. Mr. Poland said that for the period from September 1, 1920, to March 31. 1921, there was one penny per pound due, and from April I to August 31 thia year twopence. The farmers were not receiving anything like the prices thej had obtained last year, and if those accounts could be squared up it would b© a great benefit to them. He understood that the difficulty was over th© audit, but he had received information from Hamilton that the auditor was there in October, that he had not been there since and that the books of the dairy companies were balanced, so that the money could be paid over. He asked that the Prime Minister should endeavor to expedite the payments. Mr. Massey said the Government was not trying to beat the farmers out of the money, but as had been stated the difficulty was over the auditing. He was not able to go into details, but it had been reported to him that it was impossible to get the accounts audited. The department had three auditors going all over the Dominion doing the auditing and they were doing excellent work. When their reports were received the department would make prompt and final payments. Mr. Poland: “They are going through the Dominion before anything is paid out ?” Mr. Massey: Yes. Mr. Poland: It might take them a couple of years. •Mr. Massey said that it was hardly as bad as that. He did not suggest that bad as that. He did not suggest that there was anything wrqng, for there was nothing of the sort, though he had not had an opportunity of going into the accounts. As soon as the reports of the auditors were received the Government would be very glad to pay out.