THE WHEAT QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1917, Page 5

THE WHEAT QUESTION.

SHOULD FARMERS GROW, GREEN FEED? (By Wire, Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, August 10 The wheat question was mentioned in the House to-day. Mr. Newman (Rangitikei) asked if in view of the large supply of wheat in Australia, and the likelihood of a difficulty in getting away meat later in the year, the Government would consider the expediency of advising farmers to grmv winter feed instead of wheat, where they had not yet sown wheat in land already prepared. It would be in the interests of the country to grow -winter feed for stock that might have to be carried forward. Hon. W. D. S. Macdonald said that the Government was very anxious that the farmers should grow enough wheat for the needs of New Zealand. Notwithstanding the fact (hat, Australia had large stocks of wheat in hand, the shipping difficulty had to be considered. The Government had encountered difficulty already in getting delivery in the Dominion of the wheat bought! in Australia, and it was evident that, under present conditions, an outside source of supply could not safely be depended upon. The Government had expected to get all the Australian wheat here by December, but it was uncertain now whether it would be shipped. The Minister added that, in view of the large surplus of wheat in Australia the Government Would not ask any farmer to face a loss by sowing wheat in spite of wet weather and unfavorable conditions. He realised that serious trouble confronted the farmers in connection with carrying over stock, and he thought that, wherever possible, winter feed should be grown as well as wheat. The farmers of the South Island, in view of the uncertainty of the export trade, would probably prefer to grow wheat, seeing that the price was guaranteed. The Dominion ought not he dependent upon imported grain for its bread at the present time.