WHEAT PROBLEM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20132, 29 December 1939, Page 2

WHEAT PROBLEM

INSUFFICIENT SHIPPING AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION The effect of the shortage of shipping caused by the war on Australian primary industries was referred to by the Hon. C. G. Latham, a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly and leader of the Country Party, who is on o short holiday visit to New Zealand. Mr. Latham said that a heavy carry-over of wheat, approximately half the Commonwealth crop, would be experienced this year through difficulties in marketing overseas. "In Australia generally, and I can speak authoritatively for Western Australia, there is a fairly big wheat crop this season," said Mr. Latham. "It is probably more than we can ship during the year. The carry-over will range from G 0,000,000 to 90,000,000 bushels, at least half the crop, all of which would go overseas if there were the ships to take it. One of the difficulties is that vessels can make several voyages to and from Canada and Argentina with wheat while one voyage is being made to Australia. The cost is less and the convoy work is not so great,”

Fruit marketing also would be a difficulty, continued Mr. Latham, but most of the other lines of produce had been purchased by the Imperial Government, which had taken the responsibility for shipment overseas. During his visit to New Zealand Mr. Latham will investigate the methods used in the export of wool purchased by Britain.