WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1928, Page 2

WELLINGTON NEWS

WORLD RECORD WHEAT CROP

[Special To The Guardian.]

WEI/LINGTON, November 12

This season’s wheat crops promise to establish a new record in many quarters of the globe, declares Mr Norman Bathgate, the cereal expert, and a record wheat crop means a very great deal to the whole world. In his opinion, by regulating prices the wheat pools have stimulated production to such an extent that their overgrown progeny may get completely out of hand. Russia, which was formerly one of the granaries of the world, is not taken into account for obvious reasons, although in Bathgate’s opinion, in view off its great potentialites, anything may be expected from that quarter. Mr Bathgate then goes on to review the actual and potential results in other countries. The United States holds first place in the list of producers, the crop now being officially put at 115,000,000 quarters (a quarter equals 4801 bor 8 bushels). That is 500,000 quarters more than America’s previous record and should give an exporable surplus of 85,000,000 quarters. Canada’s harvest, which is placed at 73,000,000 quarters, is viewed in the nature of a miracle proving the unexampled fertility of the Dominion’s virgin prairies. Canada is expected to have a minmunr surplus of 58,000,000 quarters that must be exported without reckoning the 10,000,000 quarters carried over from last season. Other great glowers are Australia and Argentine, both of which have extended this season the acreage sown to wheat. Given continued good weather, the Argentine harvest will be roughly 31,000,000 quarters, or about 1,000,000 quarters more than the previous crop reaped last December-Janunry. The area devoted to wheat in Australia is very much larger than in any preceding year,. and (forecasts of the crop, work out at an average of. 26,000,000quarters. This is much riiore than ever! secured before but may be fully justi-' fled because the crop (which is now ; practically, safe, has been favoured by ! exceptionally favourable climatic conditions. Australia is expected to have some 16,000,000 quarters available for export, while; still leaving in hand a< handsome balance as a reserve. Australian wheat, owing to its superior flavour am} 'greater cleanliness, commands a premium in the world’s markets. India, which grows a great deal'more wheat than all South American countries, reaps her harvest about April or May, and an average yield would be around 46,000,000 quarters, which would give an exportable surplus of some 4,000,000 quarters. After these leading producers come many smaller contributors off varying importance. Rumania is quite capable of supplying some 12,000,000 quarters. Other shippers are Yugo Slavia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Latavia and Poland, and some useful quantities of wheat are provided by Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco, whereas Egypt on the other ha.nd. though producing more wheat than any of the other North. African growers, supplements its domestic supply with substantial imports, Australian being the favourite type. Although not fig- ■ uring largely in the list of exporters, Chile and Uruguay both furnish serviceable quantities each season. Chile maintains a fairly steady average bf 1,500,000 quarters. The outstanding 'fact is that the world’s wheat supplies are likely to he superabundant, for the North American supplies alone would nearly suffice for the normal requirements of importing countries. The importing countries comprise nearly the whole of Western Europe, the lion’s share being taken by the British. Isles. This year’s crop in the United Kingdom is the smallest on record, whereas the German and Italian harvest are a good deal better than last season’s. Low prices should stimulate the demand in other countries, notably in the Orient, where the superior dietetic value off bread is more widely recognised each year. Outside Europe the principal importers are South Africa, China, Japan, Brazil and Egypt, while considerable quantities, mostly in the form of flour, are also shipped to Jamaica, Trinidad, Cuba, British Guinea, British Honduras, and other West Indian colonies and to Columbia, Venezuela, East and West Africa, Java, the PHillipines and the islands in the Pacific. '* It goes without saying that there is no finality or absolute, certainty about estimates of this kind as wheat is being harvested in some part of the world during every month of the year. Mr Bathgate claims that a liberal allowance has been made for all contingencies, short of positive calamity, and bearing this in mind, it is. estimated that the requirements of all importing countries will amount to 96,000,000 quarters, and the supplies are estimated at 145,000,000 quarters. So that there is a surplus of 19,000,000 quarters. Adding the carry over from the past season the total is 85,000,000 quarters or enough for a considerable period, Bathgate is of opinion that we are entering on a period of comparative cheapness for all foods that are governed by the price df grain.