THE WHEAT SHORTAGE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2299, 5 November 1914, Page 9

THE WHEAT SHORTAGE

The Prime Minister was askedin tho House of Representatives' yesterday by Mr. : T. Buxtpi as to the steps he was taking to get more accurate and "P-to-date agricultural returns, especially of the area under-cereals. Mr. Buston at the same time said that he knew of one; miller who had a quantity of wheat which he was willing to dispose of. Mr. Massey said.that he had had the matter -under consideration prior to tho Inst meeting of the Board of Agriculture, and arrangements were now being made for a more accurate return of -agricultural statistics,. and . especially with regard to the area under crop. After this he-was n-ssured' that, : they, would bo able to get a fairly accurate return of the acreage under coreals. Ho had had difficulty in getting an idea of the area under wheat, 'but he was 111 a position to say that there wa-s a short-, age in New, Zealand at the present time. There was not sufficient wheat to oarry on till the new crop was available, even if it was ready in the middle of Fobru T ary.- Ho was glad to say that private firms were making arrangements for the. importation of. wheat !,and ] Hour. Hβ understood that there' 1 was no # actual shortage in any one district -in New, Zealand at present. If wheat was short in one district it' could be sent from another. As far as the miller who was anxious to sell was concerned) lie was prepared to buy wheat in any quantity, on behalf of the Government.

At a later stage the Prime Minister said that ho had juet received a telegram from luvercafgill, saying that there was only a fortnight's supply there, and if something was not done at an early date, the position would be serious. He was doing his best to re-. Hove everything, arid had already distributed the wheat he purchased from Australia, to twentv-ono mills. Hβ had a ■ further consignment of 5000 sacks, to arrive within a week, and would distribute it in the same way. ■