INCREASED WHEAT ACREAGE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24895, 7 June 1946, Page 6

INCREASED WHEAT ACREAGE

RESPONSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT VIEWS OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE “We feel that it is the responsibility of the Government to formulate plans for increased wheat acreage,” said Mr R. T. McMillan when he reported for the Rural Interests Committee at a meeting last evening of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. The committee, he stated, felt that it was too late to try to obtain any substantial increase in the autumn sowings, but that something should be done to encourage the farmer to put in more spring sown wheat.

It was most important now that farmers should produce every possible acre of wheat, said Mr C. S. Hammond, holding that the chamber should give every encouragement to growers to continue ttfeir production as extensively as they could.

The' following resolution was approved: “That, because of the world food shortage and the urgent claims of famine-stricken people in other countries, the Government be urged to avoid, as far as possible, the necessity of importing wheat and wheat products and to promote economies in . the consumption of these and other foodstuffs, and at the same time to encourage the production of wheat and other grain for our own requirements; and that the Government formulate a scheme to provide a guarantee against loss, with suitable safeguards to farmers growing grain in response to special appeals for increased production.” It was stated that these resolutions would be placed before the annual conference of the executive of North Canterbury Federated Farmers to be held in Christchurch to-day.