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Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1925, Page 2

The story cf wheat, says an American paper, might well be designated as the. food epic of the world, t’eople associate grain figures with staid commerce and trade. That is collect in a measure, but the movement of North American wheat outward i.s a romance in itself. Its first chapter is written months ahead, in the preparation of the ground lor the crop on which the world places such large dependence and continues uninterruptedly throughout the year. Down in Texas wheat is harvested in July or before, and then, ns a cloud sweeps over the landscape the reaping travels northward continuously, over millions of acres, until the last of the Saskatchewan and Alberta crop is gathered in the fall. But another movement begins almost simultaneously. This is the marketing of the harvest. First comes the enormous domestic requirement. Then a golden stream sets eastward, passing hi to elevators and thence by railroad, lake and canal, until the Atlantic seaports are reached, when the flood of

grain, poured into the holds of w. 'ting vessels, sets out on its final journey to feed the mouths of Europe. In a lesser measure, although there is reason to believe that in the future the streams "ill more nearly match each other in magnitude, is the n est raid movement through Pacific ports. Similar cycles are always in penmen, seasonably, in other parts of the world, lor wheat is not a one .hemisphere product. In all the mutual service which mankind renders it is doubtful il anything equals food production. It is' not spectacular. Indeed, so commonplace is it regarded, that the ordinary man gives it scarcely a thought. Yet "hat would happen were the movement to be stopped, or seriously checked. is not a pleasant subject to dwell upon. Fortunately, the probabilities point the other way, not only because the "beat area of the world is expanding, but for the reason that improved production methods with heavier yields are now a certainty. But while the farmer toils for the world, the world toils for him. The earning of daily bread is a complicated process. it keeps civilisation alive. The place of honor belongs of u> light to him who brings the bread into being, but in scarcely less measure all who make the payment in the form of trade, commerce, and industry in their multifarious forms, are deserving of rightly gained distinction

Ir present plans are carried out, Australia and New Zealand will he visited in 1925 liy the most powerful American armada ever sent into the Antipodes. This will follow the completion of the manoeuvres and battle exercises ill the Pacific of the I'nited States licet, centering around Hawaii. '.I lint! divisions of the fleet "ill engage in the cruise. Embraced in them will he a dozen dreadnoughts, with a displacement of 37(1,20!) tons, u. light cruiser division and two destroyer squadrons with a total of fid destroyers, and the net nc.su rv auxiliary licet. 'I his will represent a much mole formidable and powerful naval force than that commanded by the late Bear Admiral “Fighting Bob’’ Brans in his tour around the world some years ago. Australia and New Zealand will welcome this friendly call in a befitting manner. and the interchange, of courtesies and entertainment "ill emphasise the cordial relations existing between the countries. Bart ot the licet, at least, will he composed of battleships that formed a portion of the (Band Fleet under Beatty during the Great AVar.