A SERIOUS OUTLOOK.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 250, 25 November 1914, Page 8

A SERIOUS OUTLOOK.

SHORTAGE OF WHEAT.

FAILURE OF CROPS.

BREAD FAMINE PROPHESIED

According to statements made at today 's meeting of the executive of the North Canterbury Farmers' Union, the outlook for grain crops in the district is bad.

The president (Mr C. H. Ensor) said that the season appeared to have been pretty dry, and in his own district, Loburn, the crops had just been able to hold their own. He would like to hear reports from other members of the executive.

Mr F. Horrell (Kaiapoi) remarked that his district was a small one, but from what he had seen he could say that the farmers there were not likely to have anything like sufficient oats for liorsefeed to last them until the next season. Unless something extraordinary happened, the oat crop was likely to prove a failure. If they got a little rain they might get half the average yield of wheat. Last year the wheat yield from Kaiapoi to Oxford was exceptionallv good. Mr J. W. Tatchett (Prebbleton) said that the wheat in his district was looking fairly well. If they got a lot of rain there might be a chaiice of a great recovery in the oat crop and also in wheat. " Considering the season, the crops in the Prebbleton-Templeton dis-trict-were fair.

Mr H. G. Livingston (Papanui) said that he had been round the Burnham Plains and to the back of Ellesraere lately, and there was but little wheat and oats. The wheat was looking better than the oats —it was short, but seemed to be . fairly well headed. Mr A. J. Bell, the union's organiser, stated that he had been informed that the ovops in the Waikari district were not half what" they were last year. In some districts the corn was coming out in ear, but it could not get out. The heads of wheat, had fallen to some extent, and even if rain came it would not enable the crops to recover properly. Later in the meeting, Mr Horrell said 'that it had- been stated that the farmers were holding on to their wheat, in view of the probability of a big rise in price. While some farmers might be selfish, he was quite sure that the general run of them-wanted only a fair thing. Large supplfes were being held, and as much as seven shillings a bushel was being held out for. Naturally, he himself would like to get a good price for his wheat, but he thought that the price ruling now for last season's grain was as much as any reasonable man could wish for. The man wanted more than 5/- a biiahel for last, season's wheat was greedy. Unless we were careful, we would have brei-d at a shilling a loaf next year. The agriculturist h&d for years been pointing Out the difficulties under which they were working, especially with regard to agricultural labour.' But it was no good. Their's was but a voice crying in the wilderness. In. this land, where! we ought to be exporting wheat— : — The president:' And are actually importing it! . <. Mr Horrell: Yes. We are importing it, and ,we are on the verge of a bread famine. I will move that the Prime Minister be approached and asked to endeavour to secure-ample supplies of wheat, in view of a probable serious shortage, and to prevent prices rising abnormally. * The motion was carried.

• CORKOBORATIVE OPINIONS. That the position of affairs, as outlined at the Farmers' Union meeting, is very, serious, was indicated by anotherfarmer. This gentleman stated that last season he harvested 100 bushels of | oats an acre, but he did not think, hoiiestly, that lie would get more than 10 bushels this .season. Where he had got 60 bushels of wheat. to the acre last season, he did not think he would get more than 30 bushels this season. Of course, to-day's moisture wotild improve matters a little, but it had come too late to remedy them to any extent. Another gentleman who lias just travelled through Marlborough states that the drought in that province is so severe that stock is already being sent to other, districts for disposal.. The outlook for oats in that province is particiilarly bad, and there will be a very serious shortage of barlev.