OUR WHEAT SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2379, 8 February 1915, Page 6

OUR WHEAT SUPPLY

POSITION REVIEWED WORST OF THE TROUBLE OVER PRIME MINISTER'S PLANS ABOUT 6,500,000 BUSHELS INSIGHT Yesterday afternoon the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey) made a statement to a Dominion,representative regarding the position concerning the wheat supply for New- Zealand. "Judging by the present outlook," said Mr. Massey, "the position, at the first of March next will be that, including the wheat arranged for in Canada by the Government and that already on the way to this country, there will be approximately six and a half million bushels in' sight;. It is scaitely necessary for me to' say that the prohibition of export from New Zealand will continue, and that tha duty- will be remitted on flour and -wheat in the same way that has been followed since the outbreak of war.. "It is very .unfortunate that th'jre should be a scarcity both in Australia and. New Zealand during the war period, but I am fairly confident that matters will improve rather than otherwise, and that the worst of the inconvenience is over. 1 It will be the duty of the Government through its officers, and particularly the Registrar-General's Department, to watch the position very carefully and regularly, taking particular notice of the supplies in-hand, and of the amount held by any firm or individual, so as to prevent anything in tho way of hoarding for exploitation. And I may just as well say here that, while we consider fair trade and fair profits should be allowed, the Government will not tolerate an" hoarding up or cornering with the object of bringing about an increase in price*. It is only right to say that we have had very little fault to find in this latter, respect,, in, spite of rumours to the contrary, but it is just as well that I should, at this juncture, with new wheat beginning to come in,, strike' a note of warning for tho benefit of those concerned.

Acute Position but for Importation. ' "As_the new season's wheat will soon be available, the Government has reconsidered the position in accordance with its original intentions, and in what it believes to b'e the best interests .of all concerned, has decided to remove the existing restrictions on the sale of wheat. The producers are entitled to the fair market value of the .article they raise, and to pay them less than this would be to confiscate part of their earnings and discourage the cultivation of wheat in the future. Care will, however, be taken to see that no exploitation takes place, and that prices are not inflated for speculative purposes. By Arranging for the importation of a large quantity of wheat, the Government to a certain extent regulates the market and : prevents anything in the way .of panio or speculati/e prices. "At the wheat census tgken in .November last it was that exclusive of the-stocks held by the quantitv of wheat in the hands of farmers and merchants amounted to some 223,000 bushels, and in. order to ascertain, if these, stocks were being ed, another census was taken on January 25, covering farmers and merchants ..who were holders of 1000 bushels or over in November. , The result of the last census shows that only 13,574 bushels were then held_ by such, persons, and of that quantity 4000 bushels were held under contract of sale, and at least 2000 bush-lis represented seconds or fowl wheat.'' Thus the position at the present time is that 1 there is practically no milling, wheat in the Do-, minion other than those stocks held by millers. . It is clear, therefore, that the position at the present time would have been very acute but for the importation of over half , a million bushels by'the Government, which. w ! th careful distribution, will be sufficient to carry on Until the bulk of the new wheat is available. , What the Latest Returns Show. "Belying on reports received, from field inspectors of the Department of Agriculture, in the wheat-growing districts, it was estimated in December that the total production of the harvest would be 4,620,000 bushels. Since then, however, reports have been received indicating that there has been considerable improvement in the wheat crops, and that the yield will probably be con-, siderably better tha.i was anticipated. Assuming, therefore, that the: harvest will yield not less than five million bushels, and' takintr into account the one million b'nshels which have been purchased by the Goverr ment in Canada, and which it is anticipated will probably come to hand about September, it is estimated that wheiat stocks inNew Zealand will he exhausted prior to the harvest of 1916. "As previously stated, however, it would be inadvisable to allow the wheat stocks. in the country to set too low., and on the present particulars it would apnear that further supplies , would require to be arranged for so as to be available in January of next year. It must bo remembered, however, that this estimate is based 1 on the assumption that,the present harvest yield will be five million bushels. Should it he more or Ipss, the estimate would have to be modified accordingly.

Government Keening In Touch with Prices. "The importance of keeping.in, close touch with the production las been recognised, and arrangements, have been made, beginning with .January, to obtain monthly returns of wheat threshed: from all threshing mill owners throughout the Dominion. Returns will also, be obtained from the Railway Department as to the movement of wheat on Government railways. It is hoped ;that with these returns, as well as the usual returns collected from individual farmers, it may bo possible to ascertain very accurately the qnantity and position of the wheat produced, and with the information so obtained the position can be more accurately reported upon at a later time. "In order that' the Government may be kept in close touch with the prices at which wheat and flour are being marketed, the Government Statistician has been directed to collect the terms, twice a month', from all flour millers and from wholesale merchants; showing prices at which wheat and flour have actually been sold by them,, and regulations making the furnishing of those returns compulsory have been issued under the Census an<J Statistics Act, 1910." DISTRIBUTION OF IMPORTS. - TARANAKI'S WANTS. (By Telegraph.—Special Oorrcopondent.) Wanganul, February 7. Mr. H, J. Okey, M.l'. for Taranaki, has telegraphed to. tho Premier expressing dissatisfaction at the whole of the Australian wheat, ex Kaiapoi, from Sydney, being distributed among the southern mills. He pointed out that tho southern mills had had sufficient wheat to keep them working practically right through, whilst, the mill in TarAnaki had to closo down for most of the seuson for waut of milling supplies. He .also asked for supplies of flout to me'et,

the shortage, which was very acute among tie bakers of New Plymouth at the present time. Yesterday the Prime Minister advised Mr. Okey that Taranaki had not been overlooked. The whole of the Niagara and Wait-emata cargoes of wheat had been distributed in the North Island, and New Plymouth had got its share. Another steamer would shortly arrive, and her cargo would be mostly available to supply northern applicants. In the matter of flour seventy tons had been purchased and delivered _in New Plymouth alone, and an additional fifteen tons of flour was due at Now Plymouth, now. • SOUTHERN MARKET EXGJTED. BUYERS. SCOURING THE COUNTRY. > ' (By TelcfraDh.—Press Association.) Chrlstohuroh, February 7. The wheat market is excited locally. Buyers are scouring the country. Yesterday sales were made at 6s. 6d. • at country stations —sacks-extra. THE WHEAT SHORTAGE. A SOUTHLAND SUGGESTION. : Mr E. J.' Boyd, Mayor of Bakiutha, recently made a suggestion to the Prime Minister, through Mr. Malcolm, M.P., that, during such time as there was a scarcity of wheat in tlie Dominion, all the flour milled should retain a large portion of its bran. Mr. Boyd pointed out that this would enable flour to go at least a. third further, and referred •to the earlier days, ,'npt so very long ago, when the settlers ground their own, wheat and lteft in most of the bran. Mr. Malcolm sent, the suggestion on to Mr. Massey; _ and . the following reply has been received"With reference to the suggestion made by you to Mr. Malcolm- that, in view of, the scarcity of flour, the present refinement should be discouraged, or oven I am desired by the Right Hon. the Prime Minister to inform you that the matter will receive careful, consideration.'-'