GROWING OF WHEAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1938, Page 3

GROWING OF WHEAT

EFFORT TO PROMOTE PLANTING NEW ZEALAND ACREAGE A pledge to do all in their power to encourage the growing of enough wheat for the requirements of New Zealand was given by flour millers at a meeting in Christchurch of the New Zealand Flour Millers’ Society. The meeting was private, but the following statement has been issued: — “At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Flour Millers' Society, a full discussion took place in reference to wheat supplies and wheat growing in New Zealand. While disappointed that not sufficient wheat had been grown during the last two seasons, millers realised that growers had many adverse factors to content with. Chief of these was the unsuitable weather at the time of sowing, which had prevented a good deal of wheat being put in. Apart from that, the excellent prices ruling for wool and lamb tended to divert farmers from wheatgrowing to sheep farming. “The opinion was expressed that conditions had now changed, and possibly there was never a more favourable opportunity for farmers to turn their attention to wheatgrowing than the present. The weather was most favourable to allow of land being .prepared, and the decline in prices of wool and lamb would seem to make wheatgrowing a most attractive proposition, and, indeed, it was doubtful if any other form of farming would provide such a handsome return as a crop of wheat. “The Government had certainly done its part in fostering the wheat industry. The price of growers had been advanced Is a bushel during the last two years, and, what was more important still, the present price as guaranteed for next year. Farmers could now go ahead with the definite knowledge of what their return would be.

“The millers pledged themselves to do all in their power, individually and collectively, to encourage the growing of wheat. From a national security point of view, it was absolutely essential that at least sufficient wheat should be grown for all New Zealand requirements. For- this purpose 300,000 acres of wheat each year are needed, and therefore each wheatgrower should approximately double his last year’s acreage.”