THE WHEAT PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3034, 22 March 1917, Page 8

THE WHEAT PROBLEM

MINISTER'S AJBPEAK TO FAlWleiis: By Telegraph—Vress Association. Ghristohurch, March 21. With rgard to tho commandeering of tho wheat crop, tho Hon. AV. D. SMac Donald told a reporter to-day that thero was no suggestion '.that this woiud bo done, nor would thero be any necessity for it if farmers offered tlioir wheat freely, and millers and merchants purchased it. Tho question pi commandeering would only arise if it was founts that a person was liolding_wheat._ _ Jn that caso thoro were certain provisions in tho War Regulations winch would be brought into use, and which would 'vr.ry effectively deal with such a situation. ; Mr. Mac Donald said, ho intended to : send tho. following letter to &-.1 farmers j in wheat-growing.districts, as an* appeal, j to their patriotism :—"Dear Sir,—No ; doubt you have observed from parboil- j lars published in nowfpapsrs that the j area in wheat sown last season was j 218,877 .acres. This is one-third less j than tlio area sown in ' the preceding j year;, viz., 329,207 acres. As at least j 250,000 acres should he sown to pro- j vido sufficient wheat for Now Zealand s food and seed purposes, the appeal on behalf of tho Government of the Dominion to the farming community to sow down for next season an additional 30,000 to 35,000 acres in wheat, of which your proportion would he if possible acres. As already intimated to the secretafy of tho North Canterbury branoh of the New Zealand Fajm- | ers' Union, tho Government is proj pared to guarantee for the 1917-18 barVest a minimum price per bushel of 5s .6d,, with a maximum of sa. lOd. ff circumstances warrant, it or purchase tho same at these rates. Will .yon kindly let mo know by return mail what area you aro prepared to sow. I enclose an onvelopo and, form for the purpose. I would strongly urge upon farmers the desirability of looiing x upon _ the wheat question from a broad national point of _ viow. To those who have lands suitable for wheat growing I would appeal to assist the Empire in its gigantic struggle by doing their little bit in helping to groyj sufficient wheat to moot our own requirements. Wo shall then not be in a position of requiring space to be provided to bring to onij shores food that can be grown in our own fair laud, thereby onabling shipping to bo utilised in other urgently essential directions. Should you know of any neighbours who have sifitablo lands for growing wheat, and wKo have not received this circular, I shall bo thankful if you will mention their names in your reply."