THE WHEAT QUESTION.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15868, 5 April 1917, Page 6

THE WHEAT QUESTION.

DOMINION'S REQUIREMENTS. INTERVIEW WITH HON. W. D. S. MacDONALD. Discussing the wheat question with a "Press" representative yesterday, the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, Minister of Agriculture, said there appeared to be a considerable quantity of wheat in the hands of millers at the present time, and some farmers also appeared to be holding large quantities, and as tho threshing had not yet been completed .it would ho impossible to say what shortage, if any, there would bo in tho Dominion. Mr Mac Donald slated that ho intended having a close inspection made of all grain in hand, crops unthreshed, and area,s being ploughed up for wheat sowing. In regard..to" seed wheat a slight difficulty appeared to have arisen in connexion With tho price and tho method of procuring it, many millers having bought largely, both milling and seed wheat. Ho was having this matter investigated also 1 with a view to placing it on a more satisfactory basis so that those who intended ploughing and sowing wheat would be able to procure the neccssary seed. Owing to tho continued dry weather in North Canterbury the outlook for putting in an increased area was not very promising. Farmers were up against a hard proposition, more especially as the two preceding crops had been very light and unpayable from a commercial standpoint. The Minister said he hoped that tho j work of the Efficiency Board in cooperation with tho Agricultural De-1 partment and tho GoverntoenTo would prove satisfactory. Many farmers, he said, were of the opinion that if they could get the crops sown there would bo no great difficulty in connexion with tho harvest. It was recognised, of course, that it was essential that wherever possible tho head man on the farm or the man who understood agricultural machinery and horses should be retained where a considerable area of crop was to be grown. On the whole he felt satisfied that with the proper organisation by tho Efficiency Board and the Government generally, sufficient labour would be available, and the only outstanding factors against securing sufficient wheat for tho Dominion's requirements were climatic conditions.

To-day Mr Mac Donald will be present at tlie Oxford A. and P. Association's Show, and will address the farmers there in the afternoon. At 6 p.m. hr» will Rive an address in the Institute Hall, Oust, and at 8 p.m. in the Drill Hall, Uangiora. On Saturday, at 2 p.m., he intends to address a meeting at Sefton, and this meeting, if held, will conclude his South Island campaign. He returns to "Wellington on Saturday evening.