WHEAT AND FLOUR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 208, 4 September 1940, Page 3

WHEAT AND FLOUR

GOOD SUPPLY POSITION BUIIIDING UP STOCKS

"The AA'heat and . flour supply of the Dominion is in a better position

to-day than for several years," said the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. : "NeAv Zealand uses about 5000 tons of wheat every week, but in spite of this heavy con

sumption stocks have been built up to such an extent that the country could carry on to the beginning of April; 1941, without touching any of the neAV harvest, which begins in January. Notwithstanding this, an additional quantity of Australian wheat has been arranged for, and this will ensure a heavier carryover than for several years.'" So lnrg'.e an area had not been, sown in Avlieat since 1933, Mr Sullivan said. It was estirnated that 300,000 acres would be harvested in 1941. There was no saying what the yield would be, since that depended entirely on the weather betAveen noAV and the harvest. The average yield was about 32 bushels an acre, but in recent seasons it had varied from 24.49 bushels an acre in one year to 36.54 bushels an acre in the next. The Government had taken steps to make the position doubly sure by building up heavy t'ari'3 rover stocks. "Given a nominal yield in 1941," the Minister said, "the result should carry the country forward to May or June of 1942."