AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1918, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.

THE SHORTAGE OF WHEAT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night The Minister of Agriculture at the Council of Agriculture to-day said the shipping question would soon have to be considered. There was no use getting proper breeds of stock and making the best of butter, and getting the produce to port, only to have to "pay through the nose" for transportation to the markets of the world. Referring to wheat, the Minister said the outlook for producing sufficient wheat for our own requirements was not very bright at present. The principal reason against a good production of wheat was that the farmere in the chief wheat-growing areas had two or three very bad. seasons. The farmers had risen to the occasion and tried to do their best, but, the weather being against them, they could not get the best returns from the land, as had been anticipated. The area sown last year should have given us a surplus, but instead there was a shortage, and the Government had to purchase from Australia. This country should be Independent of Australia. Many critiebed the farmers, but they could not be expected to go in for an industry wbjeh was not a payable proposition, so there was no other course open for the Qoternment than to assist the farmers fat this matter.

The Council of Agriculture carried a remit urging upon the Government and the owners of land the great importance of instituting a scheme of afforestation on waste areas, and particularly urging the Government to prohibit the export of white pine.