DAIRY PAYOUT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 281, 26 November 1937, Page 8

DAIRY PAYOUT.

MINISTER'S SPEECH.

WAS IT MISLEADING?

QUESTION nr . PARLIAMENT.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter )

WELLINGTON, this day.

A question tabled in the House of Representatives to-day by Mr. W. J. Poison (National, Stratford) disputes the alleged suggestion made by the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, in a recent speech that the New Zealand dairy factory payout last "season was higher than in aeries quoted from Australian factories.

Be asked if the Minister was aware that the average equalised price for butterfat for the Australian, season paid out by the Australian Dairy Board was 126/8.57, equal to a payout to the factories of from 1/1J to 1/2, not 11.25 d, as stated by the Minister. "A cable from the Australian Dairy Board received to-day confirms this," he added.

Mr. Poison suggested that Mr. Nash, in view of this information, should take steps to remove the impression created by the return* quoted from Australian factories, which had been given publicity during the last few days, leading the New Zealand dairy farmer to conelude that bis pavout of 12.66 d was in excess of the Australian payout of 11.2 Ad, whereaa the reverse was the case.

Mr. If ash Protests. In the ordinary course this question would have been printed for a Ministerial reply next week, but Mr. Nash immediately rose to protest that there was' a suggestion in the question that he had made a certain statement that waa not correct. *1 did not," he added, "«ay that the average pav-out for butterfat in Australia was 11.8 M." The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. E 'on: The Minister, when he was a did point to 'accounts. Speaker said that the matter co not be dtecussed. Mr. Poison: I drew the Minister's attention to the question* which does not say be made any such statement. Mr. Speaker: The honourable gentleman has made hi* point. I think that ' will be sufficient.