THE WHEAT PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 March 1918, Page 5

THE WHEAT PROBLEM.

LARGELY A QUESTION OF LABOR.

(Our Special Correspondent.) Wellington, March 18.

Ministers appear to have satisfied themselves that the price the Government will pay for next season's wheat, that is, Os lid to (Is Id, according to variety, will be sufficient to induce the farmers to sow the required area. The Minister of Agriculture said to-night that he believed the farmers would not need any special pressing to plant -wheat, since their patriotism would induce them to make provision for the needs of the Dominion. He added that the Government intended to assist the farmers in the matter of labor, by suggesting to the military service boards the advisability of exempting skilled workers. He thought that the problem of wheat production was largely a problem of labor. If the farmers could get the labor they would be satisfied witli the Government's price If the farmers do not produce the wheat that the Dominion requires next season, provision .. ill have to be made again for importation. There is no doubt at all about supplies being available in this year and next year. The present season in the Commonwealth is reported to have been a good one, and enormous stocks have been carried forward from last year and the year before. The Imperial authorities have bought much of this wheat, but they are not moving it very fast. The problum of importation, as far as New Zealand is concerned, is mainly one of transport, and one gathers that Ministers believe shipping could be arranged if the need arose, but they would prefer, if possible, to have the wheat grown in New Zealand.