THE WHEAT SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2257, 17 September 1914, Page 7

THE WHEAT SHORTAGE

9 —■■ —- NO IMPORTS FROM AUSTRALIA. The interdict on tho export of breadstuffs from Australia, and its possible effect on the supply of foodstuffs for New Zealand, was mentioned in the House of Representatives last night. Mr. E. Newman said he was advised that a large number of bakers in New Zealand had contracts running until the end of this year with Australian millers, and that if these contracts were carried out there would be no rise in the price of • llour. But if the prohibition imposed by the Commonwealth Government upon the expert of flour was insisted upon, and' these contracts were determined ( there would be a rise in the price of bread. He urged the Prime Minister to use all the influence he possessed to havo the prohibition of the export of flour- to New Zealand from' Australia, removed.. • '/'Mr. Massey said lie had been in communication with the Prime Minister of tho Commonwealth with regard to tlie> removal of tho prohibition of the export, 'of flour' to New • Zealand, \but he was sorry to say .that the. reply he had received had not been at all favourable. He was, however, communicating again with the Australian. Prime Minister, and I-lis" Excellency was ' communicating with the Governor-General of the Commonwealth. He (Mr. Massoy) had asked tho Australian Government, if they could not remove tho prohibition altogether, to remove it so far as existing contracts were oonfcerned, arid to this request he hoped to receive an affirmative reply. He understood that the difficulty which led the Australian Government to refuse to release tho prohibition in the first instance was not' so much on account of the war, as on accouiit of the drought in the wheat districts, making 'it possible that next season's crop would be a total failure. Ho was very glad to see that rain had fallen, and this might affect the' position. This, had encouraged him to send a further communication to the Government of Australia. As soon as he had received a reply he would make a public announcement.