The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1885. THE HARVEST PROSPECTS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1309, 28 February 1885, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1885. THE HARVEST PROSPECTS.

Ik the article we published on the Ist of January last we predicted that we should have a fine harvest. We pointed out that we had had three years of bad weather, and that it was held a change takes place every three years. It will be remembered that about the beginning of February, 1882, the wet weather set in. A good deal of harvest had been secured in this district before that time, but further south, where the crops ripen at a later period of the year, the whole yield was damaged by rain. Exactly about the same time that the wet weather set in in 1882 the fine weather commenced in 1885, and has continued ever since. As we write now the sky looks gloomy, and there are some appearances of more rain, but at the same time we feel confident that the three years’ change has set in, and that we shall have good weather to save this harvest at any rate. The grain this year is excellent in quality, and the yield per acre is iarge, and as we feel confident it will be well saved only one matter remains to trouble us : that is, What will the price be ? We have frequently dealt with this quesiion on previous occasions. When the Press of the colony and the people generally were crying out that America and India were over-producing grain, and that New Zealand would be completely cut out of the market, we expressed a different opinion. It was held that grain-growing was at an end in this colony, as it would not pay to grow it, but we pointed out that if it did not pay to grow grain in New Zealand it would not pay to grow it in any part of the world. New Zealand on an average yields from one and a-half to two bushels to the one bushel most other countries yield. There is no country which yields such a crop per acre, and consequently it must pay us to grow grain it it pays any other country. The greatest drawback to farming in this country is that laud has been bought too dear. In years passed by, when grain was from 4s to 5s per bushel, land went up too high, and landowners are trying to maintain the same high prices still, This holding out to get fancy prices is preventing a good deal of land from being settled. For instance, the Levels Station is,all in the market ; every inch of it is for sale, hut its owners are holding out for high prices, and consequently it has not been sold. However, this is a matter that cannot easily be regulated ; everyone has a right to keep his property unless he can get the price he wants for it, and no one can find fault with him for it. The only remedy is : let persons desirous of buying land take care that they do not give for it more than it is worth, as they did in most instances in years passed by. But as regards the prices of grain, we believe that our predictions in this respect too will come to pass, and that the prices will soon be high again. The price of grain is regulated by the demand in the English market, and unless we make a great mistake grain will be wanted before long. A Mr John Pritchford, of Gloucester, ascribes the low prices, amongst other causes, to the very glowing accounts given of the world’s wheat crop, and the very extravagant anticipation of the market being glutted, Answing the propositions above quoted, the writer of the letter argues that, as regards the world’s supply, it was greater in 1882 than at the present time, a considerable surplus having then been carried over from the previous year ; while at the harvest of 1884 America and France were found with very small stocks of old wheat, and the stocks of English wheat were in a similar condition. Of California ami Oregon it is asserted that the quantity now (December) on passage is smaller than the qUftßtHiep at the corresponding periods

during the last three years, “ Then when we look at India, from which such immense quantities are expected, we find a large falling away in their shipments, so that at the present lime there is only obout one-fourth the quantity on passage that there was at the corresponding period of last year.” As touching America proper, we are told that “ the acreage of winter wheat sown in the principal wheat-growing States is 14 per cent, less than last year.” And finally, in regard to Home crop, the acreage devoted to wheat is estimated at two and three-quarter millions, as against nearly four ■ millions ten years ago. And it is further alleged that “ the threshing-machines have revealed that the lowest estimates of this year’s crops are too high,” Summing up the result of his investigations, Mr Pritchford writes thus :—“ The gross imports of wheat and flour into the United Kingdom from August 80th to December 20th are three-quarters of a million quarters less than during the corresponding period of the previous year, and one and a-half million quarters less than during the corresponding period 18a2.

was a total of wheat and flour on passage to the United Kingdom ot 2,969,000 quarters ; in 1882, 2,142,000 quarters ; in 1883, 2,164,000 quarters ; while at the piesent time (December 1884) there are only 1,949,000 quarters.” From this it will be seen that the supply is growing small by degrees and beautifully less, and this can only have one result, —fhe raising of the price of grain. We do not anticipate that the price will be very high this year, but we are firmly convinced that it will improve as time goes on, and that we shall see much higher prices next year. After a long dark night of commercial depression, the bright dawn of prosperous times is breaking, There can be very little doubt of that, and we are inclined to think that it will be welcomed by all.