AMPLE SUPPLY

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21190, 13 August 1940, Page 7

AMPLE SUPPLY

WHEAT AND FLOUR STOCKS HARVEST OF 300,000 ACRES (By Telegraph.—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday “The wheat and flour supply of the Dominion is in a better position today than for several years,” said the Minister of Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, today. “New Zealand uses about 5000 tons of wheat every week, but in spite of this heavy consumption stocks have been built up to such an extent that the country could carry on to the beginning of April, 1941, without touching any of the new harvest, which begins in January. Notwithstanding this, an additional quantity of Australian wheat has been arranged for, and this will ensure a heavier carry-over than for several years.” So large an area had not been sown in wheat since 1933, Mr Sullivan said. It was estimated that 300,000 acres would be harvested in 1941. There was no saying what the yield would be, since that depended entirely on the weather between now and the harvest. The average yield was about 32 bushels an acre, but in recent seasons it had varied from. 24.49 bushels an acre in one year to 36.54 bushels an acre in the next. The Government had taken steps to make the position doubly sure by building up heavy carry-over stocks. “Given a normal yield in 1941,’’ the Minister said, “the result should carry the country forward to May or June of 1942.”