DAIRY ACCOUNT

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 47, 24 August 1939, Page 12

DAIRY ACCOUNT

MEETING DEFICIT

QUESTION TO BE CONSIDERED

The question of meeting any deficit in the Dairy Industry Account will be considered by the Government when the result of the past season's trading is known, according to a reply given by the acting Minister of Marketing (the Hon. W. Lee Martin) in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr. A. N. Grigg (National, MidCanterbury) asked whether any deficit in the account was to be .debited against the dairy industry, or if it was to be met by the taxpayers of the Dominion generally. *Any consideration of the possible deficit in the Dairy Industry Account must take account of the fact that the guaranteed price scheme is a longterm plan," Mr. Martin replied. "For the first season, 1936-37, the deficit was £272,109, which sum, plus interest, was made good, in accordance with the Government's promise, from the,' Consolidated Fund. For the second: season, 1937-38, the surplus will bei sliglitly in excess of the estimated, amount of £555,000. For the third; season, 1938-39, it appears clear thati 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."