AUSTRALIAN WHEAT SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2259, 19 September 1914, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN WHEAT SUPPLY

SMALL STOCKS IN HAND SOME FACTS AND FIGURES . The order issued by the Federal Mill ist-ry restricting the exportation oi mean ana of wheat and Hour to , any desuimtion but the United directi attention, said tho Aieluouruo "Argus' on September 9, to the position oi Aus traiia iu regard to two ot her most important export products. 'i'Jje briefesi inquiry into them reveals the iact that even with this embargo upon indiscriminate exportation, Ureat Britain will noi 'be able u> derive niuc-n assistance iu the matter of food supplies from tho Commomvealth. At the present moment there is imminent danger ol an almost complete failure of the wheat crop and ot serious losses iu our tiocks and Uerde. Immediate heavy rains would avert a higii mortality in the livd stock, but they would not prevent an enormous diminution of the average harvest. Apart altogether, therelore, from the question ot contributing to Groat Britain's food. supplies, Australia is confronted with uie possibility, in respect to flour, of having to conserve all her available supplies tor home consumption to f avoid the necessity of importing. The prevailing opinion amongst those interested in tUe wheat trade is that Australia this season. Hill be unable to do more than barely provide seed wheat and flour for next year's consumption. There is a possibility, almost a probability, that, taking all the States into account, most of the grain that will be garnered will be required for seed for next year's crop. It is far too early to make a pre-harvest estimate, but reports from the four principal wheat-growing States—New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia—indicate that the crops are in a precarious condition, and that a large area, whether rain falls or not, is ddomed. Present conditions are said to be every bit. as bad as at a similar period in the disastrous season of 1902-03, when almost total failures were experienced throughout Australia. During that season the Victorian production amounted to only 2,500,000 bushels, and, after consuming the stocks of wheat and flour from the previous year, the State had to import 4,500,000 bushels for its own requirements. Other States were similarly circumstanced, , and everywhere the 'supply was far short of the demand. With these facts as a reminder, and with war conditions prevailing, there is ovory reason why Australia should temporarily restrict, if not prohibit, further wheat exports., In the event of a repetition of tho 1903-03 experience, Australia will require the whole of her existing stocks of wheat and flour to provide for home consumption. ■ The total quantity of wheat, and its equivalent in flour, now in Australia does not exceed 17,000,000 bushels, and the quantity required tor home consumption during tho ensuing twelve months is 27,000,000 bushels. To prevent Australia from being compelled to import flour next year, when prices in all probability will bo high, and wheat scarce, moro than 10,000,000 bushels will have to be harvested this season. Unless rain falls at a very early date over south-eastern and southern Australia that quantity will not be reached. Australia s production in 1902-03 was only 12,000,000 bushels, and of that total South Australia contributed one-half. It is taking no gloomy view of the position to state that prospects point to a repetition of that disaster. The indications aro that the season on the whole will ho worse. Both in Victoria and South Australia the rainfall for this year has been α-s low as it was up to the corresponding period of 1902, and in many localities it has been even lighter. . This fact is the only guide, and it leads to the conclusion already stated. Riverina, tho richest wheat section of New South Wales, is as seriously affected as the worst part of Victoria. Qufisnsland, and Tasmauia are the only two States where the seasons are good, and they need scarcely be taken into consideration. Tasmania does not grow enough wheat for her own consumption, while Queensland's output comparatively is small As regards the meat industry, the position as it affects individual stockowners is equally serious. As it affects tho people of Australia it is not so bad. Queensland is easily the largest beefproducing and exporting State, and there the season is good. The northern State is dependent for her rains upon the monsoonal disturbances, and these do not reach the wheat belts of southeast, southern, and south-western Australia. Graziers everywhere, except in Queensland, are faced with the possibility of heavy losses. Unfortunately the export trade in meat for thorn has at present little interest. The quantity of fat stock, either bullocks or sheep, is very small, and it will soon reach vanishing point unless rain falls.

LARGER SUBMARINES

Submarines of 2000 tons, armed with four 6in. torpedoes, are foreshadowed as among the possibilities of the near future in marine engineering. Mr. Alexander Richardson, an authority on tho subject, says:—"As 'great an advance proportionate to tho size of tho ship has been mado in submarine boats as in any craft, and thus the task of the engineer has been greatly increased. Tins is due not only to the desire for higher speeds, but greater fighting equipment. In this respect Germany is making marked progross in size as well as in numbers. Obviously other Powere must follow, and vessels of at least 1700 tons displacement may be quite frequent in the near futuro. As the trend is lor larger guns, it may be justifiable to speculate on the increase in size and especially in engine power, to ensure 16$ knots with guns.of greater power and range. Four guns of 4in. calibre instead of tho same number of 12-pounders, with ammunition, would involve directly art increase in a.rma. monts of 10 to 12 tons, and tho usp • • the same number of 6in. gnns an addition of 78 tons. The 1700-ton vessel would for 12 tons moro weight become an 1800-ton vessel, while for the 78 tons for 6in. guns, the displacement would become 2000 tons." At the end of his articlo, Mr. Richardson adds: "It can be accepted with confidence that oiii Admiralty officials aro ensuring our supremacy in engineering science jib well as iu other departments of activity."