SHORTAGE OF WHEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 150, 1 December 1914, Page 3

SHORTAGE OF WHEAT.

POSSIBLE BREAD TUMINE. According to statements made at a ■leeting of the, executive of the North Canterbury Farmers' Union last week, the outlook for grain crops in the Canterbury district is bad. The president, Mr C. IT. i'nsnr, said that the season appeared to have been very dry, and in his own district, I.olmvne, the crops had just been able to hold their own. Mr F. Horrell (Kaiapoi) remarked that his district was a small one, but from what he had seen lie could say that the farmers there were not likely to have anything like sufficient oats for horse-) feed to last them until next season. Unless something extraordinary happened the oat crop was likely to prove a failure. If they got a little rain they might get half the average yield of wheat. Last year the wheat yield from Kaiapoi to Oxford was exceptionally eood. Mr J. W. Patchett (Prebbleton) said that the wheat in his district was looking fairly well- If they got a lot of rain there, there might be a chance of a great recovery in the oat crop, and also in wheat. Considering the season, the crops ill the Prebbleton-Templeton district were fair. Mr H. G. Livingston (Papanui) said that he had been round the Durham Plains, and to the back of Ellesmere lately, and there was but little wheat and oats. Mr A. J. Bell, the union s organiser, stated that he had been informed that the crops in the Waikari district were ! not half what they were last year. _ Later in the meeting, Mr Horrell said that it had been stated that the farmers ' were holding on to tli eir wheat in view of the probability of a bgi rise in price. While some farmers might be selfish, he was quite sure that most of them wanted only a fair thing. Large supplies were being held. As much as 7s a bushel | was being held out for, Naturally, he I himself would like to get a good price for his wheat, but he thought' that the price ruling now for last season's grain was as much as any reasonable man could wish for. The man who wanted more than 5s a bushel for last season's wheat was greedy. Unless the country was careful, bread would be a shilling a [loaf next. The agriculturists had for years been pointing out the difficulties under which they 1 were working, especially with regard to agricultural labour, but it was no good. Theirs was but a voice crying in the wilderness. In this land, where we ought to be exporting wheat— The President: And we are actually importing it! . Mr Horrell: Yes, we are importing it, and we are on tho verge of a bread famine. I will move that the Prime Minister be approached, and asked to endeavour to secure ample supplies of wheat, in view of a probable serious shortage; and to prevent prices rising , abnormally. , j The motion was carried. vfe 'tffcuai ' "iic A " :