OUR WHEAT SUPPLIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 185, 15 January 1915, Page 4

OUR WHEAT SUPPLIES.

IMPORTS COMING TO HAND. THE "KAIAPOI" DELAY NOT SERIOUS.

By Press Association. M'ellington, Last Night. With reference to the holding up of the Kaiapoi, Mr Massey states that he had communicated with Mr Fisher, tie Federal Premier, who had replied indicating that he was. taking action. Beyond that he had received no advices. The trouble Ims occurred over the action of the New South Wales Government in seizing "all wheat within the boundaries of our State." The Government then controlled the sale, distribution, and export. Having a surplus, the Government sold 100,000 bushels to the New Zealand Government One condition was that the New Zealand Government • should undertake to sell to the New South* Wales Government a like quantify, of wheat after our harvest Is saved, and Mr Massey states that the condition practically stands. The Commonwealth Government never admitted tlie right of the New South Wales Got* ernment to commandeer and deal with" wheat in that State, and, it appears) Is desirous of preventing the wheat front being exported.

Against tbis set back, advices received by Mr Massey show that merchants la' New Zealand ar e importing considerably quantities of flour, having been encouraged to do so by the rewiasion of duty, and also as a result of negotiations between the New Zealand and Commonwealth Governments, which allow "contract" flour to be imported into New Zealand from Australia. Mr Masssey added that many hundred of tons had already reached New Zealand under that arrangement. H« had received advices that by the Riverina. to Auckland, one consignee received 220 sacks of flour, and another 374 sacks, and that on the Warrimoo there are. fifteen tons of flour for one Wellington merchant and thirtyfive tons for a Dunedin merchant. Similar consignments to various firms are due practically every week. In addition' there are 300,000 bushels of wheat now on to New Zealand from St. John's (Canada), by the s.s Hesperoua, so that the delay in the Kaiapoi's ship- i ment will, at the worst, be. only A temporary inconvenience.