The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1888. ANTICIPATING A FAMINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1826, 8 December 1888, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1888. ANTICIPATING A FAMINE.

A writer in the Lyttelton Times who signs himself “ Observer ” directs attention to the fact that if we allow any more wheat to be exported we shall be left without any for ourselves. The figures he gives certainly point to this conclusion, but he does not state where he got them, and consequently they lack that convincing force which they would have if they had come from some authoritative source. He says that the quantity of wheat in New Zealand last April was 8,117,628 bushels. Of this there has been shipped to the United Kingdom 1,522,788 bushels, shipped to other colonies 1,219,579 bushels, used for seed 526,000 bushels, consumed during eight months 3,201,600, total 6,469,967. Thus there is left only 1,647,656 bushels, and as we shall require this for our own consumption before our next harvest comes in Observer argues that the Government ought to prohibit the exportation of any more wheat at present. This is an important question, but we are of opinion that there is no danger of a famine, even though a good deal more of the grain were exported. Our harvest will be in very shortly now,, and judging from appearances it will be a bountiful one, but at the same time the question is of sufficient importance to merit serious consideration. The same writer goes on to discuss the outlook for next year, and the conclusion he arrives at is that the supply o! wheat in the Australian colonies for their own consumption will be 43millions short. That at any rate is a guarantee that high prices will be maintained, and that our farmers have a season of plenty before them. We are glad to hear it; we do not begrudge, it to them, but at the same time we should like to ask them a question or two on the subject. Farmers as a general rule are very much opposed to Protection, and why? Because, they tell us, it raises the price of goods to the consumer. Now has not the increased value of grain raised the price , of bread to the consumer, and how is it that every man who has to pay the extra amount per lb is not crying out about it ? i he farmers are the producers of the grain and that amount per lb goes into their pockets, yet no one begrudges it to them, Now, why should not farmers be equally generous to others, as the people as a whole are to them P Let farmers be not deluded into the belief that this increase in the price of grain and bread is an unmixed blessing. It is certainly a blessing to them, but what is it to the poor working man with a family ? How will it improve his position? We doubt very much whether it will do him much good, while the increase in the cost of living is a matter of very serious consideration to him. He wi]j

have to pay more for hia living now, owing to the general increase of prices, than he would if there had been three times as much added to the Customs duties as there was last session. The price of everything must rise if the cost of living is increased, but we doubt very much whether we shall see any great immediate improvement in the wages of the working men. That, like anything else, is always regulated by the laws of supply and demand, and if the supply is greater than the demand no increase can take place. Our opinion is that it is because machinery is doing most of the work which men used to do, and consequently there is no employment to he got. The reaper and binder cuts down all the grain in the colony in a few weeks, while it is threshed by our threshing mills in an equally short time. Only a few men were required in connection with these machines, and that constitutes all the employment connected with the saving of the harvest. If grain had remained at 2s 6d a bushel, and bread was only 5d per loaf, the farmers would have to employ exactly the same number of men as they will do during the coming harvest. If farmers go in for making great improvements on their lands there can be no doubt but the working man will be greatly benefited by the increased prosperity, That, of course, is a thing of the future, and meantime the increase on the cost of living will fall heavily on persons earning their daily wages.