THE WHEAT INDUSTRY.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20277, 20 August 1937, Page 6

THE WHEAT INDUSTRY.

The Minister of Industries and Commerce, after visiting the wheat-growing districts in Canterbury, has found what he regards as convincing evidence that the farmers have responded well to his appeal for increased plantings, and is anxious that “North Island newspapers which are so bitter in criticism of the industry,” should know of the co-operative spirit shown. It is a pity that Mr Sullivan did not give a few particulars, for the latest figures available are not exactly encouraging. Last October it was officially estimated i.hat the area sown down in wheat would total 222,000 acres, and that was 30,000 acres smaller than the area for 1935-36. The estimate of the crop for the past season was 7,150,000 bushels, as compared with 5,860,000 actually harvested in the preceding year, and the threshing returns for the first six months of 1937 —and that covers the most active period—were 6,328,699 bushels. It is possible that wheat still in stack will bring the total up to the estimate, but it is very improbable that the total yield will be anything like that of 1935-36. The appeal made by the Minister was for increased sowings for the coming season. It will be some time before the official estimate of the area under wheat is available, but it will show what response has been made. The decrease in the growing of wheat is probably due to the fact that many growers have changed over to sheep. With wool and lamb prices so attractive they have exercised the option they enjoy. And this will be the case more particularly on marginal lands. These areas can grow wheat, and provide a fair return provided climatic conditions are favourable, but the work is heavy, and labour costs are high, so that the owners naturally prefer to run sheep instead of growing cereals. That is the position, and the Dominion probably will have to import larger quantities of wheat in the coming year. There are certain districts where wheat will continue to be grown because it is tlie most economic way of farming that class of land. That would be the practice even if the existing duty were removed, or lowered. The criticism made in the north has been based entirely on the figures, and if the Minister should be prepared to take the area sown in the coming season, and the crop threshed, as a basis for future policy probably the majority of the critics would also agree to abide by the facts disclosed.