THE WHEAT SHORTAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 82, 7 April 1915, Page 11

THE WHEAT SHORTAGE.

FURTHER IMPORTS' ■XEGESSARY.

<By TelegraDh.— Press Association.)

WELiiINGTax, Tuesdav.■Replying to-day to a deputation from the conference of poultry farmers, the iPrime •Minister said that he knew poultrymen at present were considerably tampered by the high price of fowl food, especially of wheaf. He could not say that the price of wheat was going to be much lower for some time to come. It tad been jug-jested that theGqyer.irment anig-hir import* more " wheat arid let poultrykeeepers have it at cost price. The Government proposed to import more wheat. It -would be necessary- it the figures of the Registrar-General "were correct, and he jTelieved there would be a shortage before next harvest. There -would be a gap to be filled by the million bushels which 'he had under "offer. It was not the price of wheat in Canada that was the trouble; it was the cost of bringing it here. Freights had more than doubled during the last six monthe, end the present rate amounted to 2/3 per bushel for -wheat. The outlook for tie coming crop was very good indeed, •nd if they could only get through this Beason, he had no doubt the difficulty would come to an end. But it would last till December.