WHEAT GROWING
; POSITION OF THE FAItMEK. I i 111 the course of a statement regard- ' ing wheat, production in New Zealand the -Minister, of' Agricuituriß (the Lion. J ,Yv. D. S. AlacDonuKlJ said-lie thought fit-ill-that it was highly desirable to produce within the iJonimion the i .wheat required for the people's biead. j . i He felt tnat it would be bad policy to become dependent oil Australia -for supplies, and that it was not fair to blame the New Zealand farmer for takiug an increased price under war conditions. x "Apart from the present shortage of labour and the special inducements ' offered by high prices to follow other j lines of production," said the Minister, "farmers' costs of wheat growing i have greatly advanced within tlie pass !: year or 50... I speak subject.to- correc- , tion, but here is a little comparative j . statement of such costs, the first figure representing the pre-war charge and the ■ second the present rate:— Ploughing, per week, 205.; 60s. 1 Harvesting, per hour, Is. 3d.; Is. 9d. ; to 2s. Thrashing, per hour, 20s. to 205.; ; • / 40s. Receiving and delivering, per ton, : 2s. 6d.; 35.-. i Storage, per ton, 2d.; 2Jd. ; Ploughs, net, £20 ss. ; £'33 15s. : Ploughshares, doz., 155.; 30s. Harrows, £10 2s. 6d.; £15 '2s. 6d. D'rills, £56; £77 10s. - Drays, £28 10s.; £42. i Extras, etc., 50 per cent, to 100 pe-r '' cent, advance. Binders, Massey-Harris, £42: £S"J I .10s. .. .. ' ' Horse covers, each, £1; £1 17s. 6d. ; Corn, sacks, each, 9d.; Is. ! Binder twine, per lb., 5d.; Bd. Harvester- oil, per gall., 4s. 6d.; 7s. ; 6d.. ' Seaming. twine, per lb., 25.65. ' Fjeed oats, per bushel, Is. 6d.; 4s. ' . 6d. to os. ' Oat sheaf chaff, ton, 605.; 140s. Hailway rates, 21 per cent, increase, j; Shoeing,'33l-3 per cent, increase. Fertilisers, per ton, £4 12s. 6d.; £7 I. , 12s. ,6d.' - V i If the wheat farmer is to be solvent, lie must receive more for his produce than he did before the war in order ; to follow his calling and at the same ! time meet the , i increased overhead i charges.' If.wheat does not pay, then i he,is-bound to try the' next best thingl i "I will say this," said Mr. MacDonaki, "I am thoroughly convinced that ! irost of 'tlie farmers nro in earnest in \, their desire to do what is right. They i . Tnalise the need for increased prodnc- ' ' tion. They feel that, as they own the . i ■ land, they ought to do what is riVl't by ! it. But they cannot do inmoss'bilities. | The miblio should realise that."
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 169, 6 April 1918, Page 12
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424WHEAT GROWING Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 169, 6 April 1918, Page 12
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