THE GRAIN SHORTAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 72, 25 March 1915, Page 9

THE GRAIN SHORTAGE.

■ ; ii DISCUSSED BY FARMERS. , (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. At the meeting of the Fanners' Union fc>-day, Mr. Patchett "moved a' resolution Urging farmers bo grow more wheat and other grain. He said that there was less acreage under wheat than there was 25 yearn ago. New Zealand needed seven million bushels of wheat to feed itself, and it was a shameful thing that a leaf, m~such a -favoured country, should be wsting lOd when it snoiild not be more 'than Sd. Harvesting, now, was mere child's play compared with w:hat it was in the old days, but that was put for- -■ Ward as a plea to account for the decease of wheat-growing. ," Mr. Cirllen said the labour problem .was, the trouble. Fairmers could not get 'Ken, and the majority of the men they dM get were of no use."

Mr. Sheat. said ire thouglu the situation mould right itself. With fowl wheat 'St 6/ they did not need to urge farmers to grow grain. Wage-earners would certainly have -,i hard three to keep things : going with bread at lOd.

Mr. Gardiner complained bitterly of the embargo on the export of oats. If '.t had to be plaraxl it should have been placed before the season for buying- and selling had t-tarted. Contracts had been entered into with exporters, and enrely ttfy should be fulfilled. He moved a resolution protesting against the embargo.

Mr. Sheat said thai the Prime Minister ,7«6 out to protect the interests of con*umei3 On statisticss, there was going *> be a shortage of oabs, and the Prime i&Hster was not taking any chances. . .Personally, he th'onight tie Government -have allowed existing contracts to he fulfilled. He hoped that the motion . 'woiiH not bf carried, as it would be a slur on the Prime Minister. .- The motion wag- rejected.