THE WHEAT SUPPLY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 39, 21 January 1916, Page 2

THE WHEAT SUPPLY.

PREMIER’S REPLY TO CRITICISM Pee PttESa AsaOOIiTION. Wellington, January 20. Referring to the wheat question, in reply to recent criticism, Mr Massey to-day said; Farmers cannot do hetjtoi 1 than grow wheat, and if at a time like this the duty on wheat and Hour was permanently abolished, then we 'have to face the result, namely, that in future years wo, would have to import a very large proportion ol the wheat required, at greatly increased prices compared with what we have boon paying in recent years. He was anxious to avoid that. Wheat-growers had done their duty during the war period by sowing an increased area, in cereals, and it was no wonder that many felt that the time had come to give up wheat-growing and go in for another branch of agriculture, in connection with which there would be less abuse and more profit. The Government Statistician says'that there is sufficient wheat to last from now till March 14. This means that there is considerably less than a million bushels in stock. When the 100.000 bushels was borrowed from New South Wales there was only ten days’ supply in hand.