WHEAT YIELD IN N.S.W.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 57, 8 March 1889, Page 3

WHEAT YIELD IN N.S.W.

GIGANTIC DEFICIENCY.

Sydney, March 7. The following is the Government Statist's official report on the wheat yield, etc. :— The probable consumption of wheat during 1889 is given as 7,986,000 bushels, and the estimated yield at 1,573,000 bushels, leaving a deficiency of 6,413,000 bushels. The probable consumption is based on the experience of the past ten years, and the mean ot ten years' average maintained would give an estimated consumption of 7,424,000 bushels. To this must, be added, however, the quantity required for seed purposes, which ia estimated at 562,000 bushels, making a total as above of 7,986,000 bushels. The average consumption per head during the past ten year 3is given as 67. During the year 1888, New South Wales imported 560,284 bushels from Victoria, 521,324 bushels from South Australia, 456,960 bushels from New Zealand. The opinion is expressed that flour is bound to rise by leaps, that it would be unwise to force the price, so people will not buy, and that New South Wales will be able to absorb the whole of the New Zealand surplus of wheat supply, though probably America will send a couple of million bushels. In the course of an interview, a member of one of the leading firms in the grain trade expressed the opinion that although a certain prejudice exists against New Zealand wheat, that prejudice will be beaten down by force of circumstances, provided the English wheat market maintains its good tone, and that New South Wales and Queensland are absolutely dependent for their supplies on New Zealand. Regarding the possibility of California coping with New Zealand, the same gentleman said it could not dosouuless New Zealand forced the price and compelled tho market to drag. The Californian market acts in union with the English market, and so long as the present condition of the latter is maintained, Californian growers will be unable to land wheat in Australia for less than 5s 7d per bushel. The moment tho English market falls, however, say to 395, and provided New Zealand wheat should be selling at above ss, say ','ss 6d, then Californian growers could successfully compete with New Zealand growers ; otherwise there is not much to fear, although American grain would find favour here.