WHEAT AND FLOUR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 162, 5 April 1920, Page 4

WHEAT AND FLOUR

NO SHORTAGE OP SUPPLIES

OFFICIAL ESTIMATES

"Stateme/its have heen appearing recently referring to the sitpnly of wheat in New Zealand for the current year," ' said tlie Prime Minister (the Right. Hon. W. F. Massey) to a' reporter on Saturday, ' "and opinions have been expressed which are certain to cause uneasiness with regard to the position, and may lead to muiic 'buying on the part of the public. It has beon- stated, for instance, that it may be necessary before the end of the year to import American flour costing possibly (nt the present rate of evchange) jao per ton. I am glad to be able to say, going by statistics supplied to me from the Board of Trade, that the outlook appeal's to be satisfactory. The estimated requirements of the country for food nurposes arc, for one year, 6,000,000 bushels. Bushels. The carry-over on February 29 was equal to 750.000 Balance of Australian purchase 2.000.000 Estimated New Zealand yield... 4,900,000 ' ' 7.G50.00P "The estimate for the New Zpaland yield is based on an acreage of 140.000 with mi average yield of 35 bushels. This may appear to be a very sanguine estimate, but the actual thrashing returns to date show the crop to'be averaging over'3o bushels to the acre. Nearly all the reports agree that the yields are beyond expectations. "Our estimated requirements are:— Bushels. Milling 6,000.000 Reeds «>O,OOO Fowl feed .' : 750.000 .' 7,250,000 "I do not say that care and economy in breadstuff* arc not necessary. I think thev are. But if these estimates are even approximately correct -we might get through without much difficulty.