DAIRY DEFICIT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 August 1939, Page 6

DAIRY DEFICIT

MATTER FOR CONSIDERATION LATER. STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Information as to whether any deficit in the dairy industry account at the Reserve Bank was to be debited against the dairy industry or was to be me by the taxpayers of the Dominion generally, was sought by Mr A. N. Grigg (Opposition, Mid-Canterbury) in a question he put to the Acting-Minis-ter of Marketing, Mr Lee Martin, in the House of Representatives yesterday. “Any consideration of the possible deficit in the dairy industry account must take account of the fact that the guaranteed price scheme is a long-term plan." Mr Martin replied. For the first (1936-37) season the deficit was £272,109. which sum, plus interest, made good, in accordance with the Government's promise, from the Consolidated Fund. For the second (1937-384 season the surplus will be slightly in excess of the estimated amount of £555.000. "For the third (1938-39) season it appears clear that there will be a substantial deficit, which will be partially offset by the surplus for the 1937-38 season. When all the 1938-39 season's produce has .been shipped, sold overseas. and the final results known, the Government will give consideration to the treatment of the deficit then standing to the debit of the dairy industry account.-"