Canada

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 52, 4 March 1915, Page 6

Canada

THE EMPIRE'S FOOD SUPPLIES.

United Press Association. (Received 9.30 a.m.) Ottawa, March 3

In the House of Commons, Mr Hughes stated that.the. Government's negotiations with the wheat-growers had progressed favourably until some designing person succeeded in inducing the farmers to hold their stocks-for higher prices.

Mr Cockshutt moved that justification existed for the Government exexcising supreme control over the quantity and the destiny of the wheat exports, .thereby regulating home food prices, at the same time directing that the supplies of grain should reach only Britain and friendly countries. He declared thai, the Canadian visible wheat stocks were sinking rapidly, and were already down to eight million bushels. He expected that the next six weeks would see an unprecedented squeeze owing to the situation coming on top of a world shortage of four hundred million bushels. He estimated that the total wheat available in the. Dominion to meet the requirements' of the mills, seed, and food supplies," was 12,648,000 „ bushels, which was a half year's supply. To

carry on till the harvest Avas. gathered would mean a requirement of twenty-three million bushels, while for Canada about ten to fifteen million bushels, were required for seed supply. . , The motion was negatived without a division.

Mr Borden (Premier) stated ho had advised the Imperial Government that large quantities, .of foodstuffs were available in Canada at reasonable prices, but Britain,had.not taken steps to secure supplies,., which led to the, inference that she had ample for requirements.