WHEAT CULTURE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3164, 16 August 1917, Page 8

WHEAT CULTURE

QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT VIEWS OF THE GOVERNMENT An interesting question regarding tho growing of wheat in Now Zealand was asked in tho House of Representatives J-esterdny. Mr. E. Newman asked tho Minister of (Agriculture whether, in view of the very large supply of wheat in Australia, and the fact that tho Government had undertaken to buy the next season's crop in Nejf Zealand, and nlso that there ie ' likely to be the greatest difficulty in getting away frozen meat later in the year, the Government would consider the expediency of allowing farmers to grow winter feed instead of wheat, where ■ they have not yet sown tho wheat in land.already prepared. The season had been very wet, and a great deal of whett that would otherwise have been sown was not yet'in the ground. He asked whether, in view of all tho circumstances, it would Jib in the interests of the country for these farmers to grow winter feed for stock that may have to bo carried over. • Mr. Poole: The people's bread must bo the first consideration. -."Mr. Newman; I am asking the que=i tion in the interests of the whole / country. Mr. Mac Donald said that the Government was very keenly anxious that the .fanners' in New Zealand should grow enough wheat for the requirements cf this country, notwithstanding the fact that there were largo quantities of wheat '77! Australia. Already the Government fhad had difficulties in getting the wheat purchased in Australia shipped over liere. Two shipments had been brought to New Zealand, and a steamer had been chartered for a .third, but instead cf iSOO tons which this steamer should havo loaded'it 'could-only get 2GO tons, and then.had to go to Fiji to load sugar. "These were tho difficulties that occurred •regarding an outside supply.' The Gov- . ernment had expected to get nil. the wheat shipped over here before the end of "December, but it was uncertain now when tho wheat could, bo shipped. But in view of the large surplus in Australia 'ie did not think the Government would ■ ask any, farmer to face a loss in trying to grow wheat in spite of wet weather 'and bad conditions. There was a very serious trouble facing ,the farmers in. Tegard to carrying over stock, owing to the freezing works' being full before the season )>egan, and he thought that wherever possible fanners should grow winter feed as well as wheat. In view of the uncertainty regarding the export trade, '.he , farmers in the South Island would prolialjly prefer to grow wheat; seeing that, the price was guaranteed. He firmly Relieved that it was absolutely necessaTy , to grow enough wheat for our own re-

quirem 011(5 in view of the great difficulty of {jetting wheat carried to Now Zealand.