WHEAT GROWING

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16258, 8 July 1918, Page 3

WHEAT GROWING

A>\ EXfERTjS REVIEW OF THE POSITION.

(SPECIAL TO "tit* t>*ES9.")

TBIARU, July C

At a meeting of the Tirnaru branch of the Fanners' Union, held to-day, tho chairman (Mr John Talbot) 6aid, with regard to the wheat position, threshing "was comploted, and it had been ascertained that there were about 5,000,000 bushels of milling and half a million bushels of inferior wheat. This fell far short of the requirements of tho Dominion. Tho Government• and the Board of Trade were now considerably exercised over the position, as a shortage of 1 to 1} million bushels was a certainty. He understood, that- a million bushels had just heen purchased from Australia, but the shipping difliculties were so great, that it would bo a problem how to get it over. The position would probab'y be worse next year. It was calculated that it v;ould tako seven or eight months to get over the million bushels just purchased. The Farmers' Union had asked the Government to ascertain the aroa of wheat sown and to be sown, but the Wheat Controller had told him that tho difficulties in the way of doing, this were very great, owing to depletion of tho ranks bf tho clerical staffs. The Board of Trade had, however, mado a rough estimate from the quantity of wheat used and to be used for seed, and from their personal observations. In the so ways they estimated that tho area sown this year would be 30 ta 4.0 per cent, less than last year. I~ist year 270,000 acres were sown; this year it Was quite likely that less than 200,C00 acres would be sown. If next harvest was as bad as the last one, there would be a shortage of about three million bushels next year. Australian wheat was wanted elsewhere, and when New Zealand bought it it was taking from the world's supply -what ought to bo grown here. The spring sowing could not be reckoned on for more than 20 per cent-, in South Canterbury, and it would be less than that in North Canterbury, as spring sowing was not popular there. Lately there had been ,i considerable change in tho attitude of tho Government towards the wheat supply question. They were now considerably alarmed. :iu <1 instructions had been given to the Military Boards to ease off materially in the matter of taking farm workers. It was a question, however, whether these instructions had not come too late to wholly relieve th ft position, which was now serious. IX

the available shipping was to be dovoted to bringing, wheat to land from Australia,.we would go without other things, such as salt, Ite etc., of which tho country stood fn ne<£ He had not the doubt that farmers would do their best to grow all the wheat they c°uld. J\ »tn a representative from North Otago, no had been called to Christchurch roccntIv to consult with tho Board of 1 ratio, who wore anxious to induce a large so 111 ft °was^decided 1 to draw the attention of the Minister of Itefenco to the fact that tho last man was being to tho front from some farms, and to ask him what right of.appeal, if any, such mon had when once tney were in campAnothei' motion was passed urging farmers to £r<>w all the. wheat thev p.ssibly could grow, in view of the P r f\ t)_ able shortage, next season, and the groat difficulty of bringing, wheat to New Zealand from Australia . It was agreed tlr.it .the Efficiency Board should br, asked to add cnaffcutting to tho list of Essential industries.