POSITION OF BREADSTUFFS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2672, 19 January 1916, Page 6

POSITION OF BREADSTUFFS

INTERVIEW WITH MR. MASSEY. By Telegraph..—Press As&ociation. Christchuroh, January 18. In the course of an interview to-night the Prime Minister amplified his. previous remarks upon the prospects of t'ho wheat harvest. Since then he said "1 have been supplied with' some figures by the Department, arriving'at a more correct estimate of the position. The area in wheat in the sent season was 333,000 acres, against 229,000 last season, an inorease of 104,0U0 acres. Estimating the area eaten off, and not worth harvesting, say 14,000 acres, that leaves a net increase of 90,000 acres. Tho estimate of 14,000 acres was merely a, rough guess, but ho put 90,000 acres at 20 bushels ■ to the acre to get 1,800,000 b'ushels, tho apparent increase. Tho averago yield last year was 29 bushels por acro, and my opinion at present, subject to correction later, is that the yield this year will not average more than 20 bushels, a falling off of nine bushels, or, approximately, two million bushels, so that on this estimate we will not bo as well off this season, compared with last by about 400,000 bushels. Against this we have the Government Statistician's estimate that there is enough wheat in New Zealand to last to the middle of March, and some thousands of tons of flour in addition, representing the ordinary carry over. It is safe to assume that as Australia has an exportable surplus this season the usual quantities of flour will be imported by the bakers for mixing purposes, and as the drought period in the Commonwealth has come to an end it is fairly safe to assumo if supplies are wanted there will bo no difficulty in obtaining them in Australia. I do not think this will be necessary. My own opinion is based on the information available. We shall have sufficient wheat and flour in this country for our requirements .for the next twelve months. Tho position, however, will be closely and steps taken to prevent anything in the way of a shortage. ,1 would remind the public that wo have reached a crisis in tho whoat-growiiig industry. This branch of agriculture has not been as profitable in recent years as the fattening of lambs or dairying or the- production of wool. In our own interests and the interests of the country I hope wheatgrowing fanners will receive the encouragement they undoubtedly deserve. If whoat-growing has tailed in. this country, it will become necessary to import our requirements, .which would bo nothing less than a national calamity."