EXPORT OF WHEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 February 1921, Page 12

EXPORT OF WHEAT.

PROHIBITED FROM NEW ZEALAND. SURPLUS OATS PRODUCTION. Exportation of wheat, wheatmeal, flour, bran and pollard from New Zealand has been prohibited by Order-in-Council. The details of the order are not available as yet, but it is understood that the prohibition has been imposed -in consequence of the shortage of the crop this year. There is, it seems, barely enough wheat in the country to meet domestic requirements. The export prohibition, it -is understood in Auckland, applies to the Pacific Islands, which will get what they need from Australian sources. “New Zealand should be able to make herself self-supporting as regards wheat,” said a leading member of the millings industry to an Auckland Star reporter. “If our protective duties were placed on a par with the Australian duties something might be done. Australia has Customs tariff on wheat double that of the Dominion, and the grower there is protected against competition and dumping. Australia is becoming in consequence one of the granaries of the world. Yet the fact is that in New Zealand our average yield is about 25 bushels to the acre, while the average in the Commonwealth is from 13 to 15 The exportation of oats and other cereals, oatmeal, crushted oats, rolled oats, and similar preparations is permitted according to the Order-in-Council. “The explanation of that is simply that there is an exportable surplus in oats this season,” said an authority in the industry, “and we inust get rid of it. I understand that last year’s crop •has not yet been nearly consumed, and the present season’s is arriving on top of it, so that it is estimated there are about two million bushels available more than we need. This removal of the export prohibition may give us a chance -to dispose of this.”