CANADA'S STORES OF WHEAT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2401, 5 March 1915, Page 5

CANADA'S STORES OF WHEAT

UNPRECEDENTED SQUEEZE PREDICTED DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT. Ottawa, March 3. In the Canadian House of Commons, Colonel Sam Hughes, Defence Minister, stated that the Government's negotiations with the wheat growers had progressed favourably until a desiguing person had succeeded in inducing , farmers to hold- their stocks for higher prices. Mr. W. F, Cockshutt (Brantford) ttioved to the effect that justification existed for the Government exeroising supreme control over the quantity and destiny of wheat exports, thereby regulating home food prices, and, at the Bam© time directing, that surplus graiu should reach only Britain and friendly countries. He declared thai; the Canadian visible wheat stocks were sinking rapidly, and were already down to 8,000,000 bushels. It was expested that the next six weeks would see an unprecedented squeeze, owing to the present situation coming on top of a worldshortafee of 400,000,000 bushels. Ho estimated that the total wheat available in the Dominion to meet the requirements of the mills, and seed and food supplies was 12,648,000 bushels. There was a half-year' 6 supply to carry on till the harvest was garnered.- The mean requirement was 23,000,000 bushels, while for Canada about from. 10,000,000 to 15,000,000 bushols was required for seed supply. _ The motion was • negatived without division. The Primo Minister (Sir Hobert Borden) stated that lie had advised the Imperial Government tbat large quantities of foodstuffs were _ available in Canada at reasonable prices. Britain had not taken steps to' secure these supplies, which led to the inference that she had ample for her requirements.