MORE WHEAT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 76, 31 March 1941, Page 6

MORE WHEAT.

MEAT RESTRICTIONS. CUSHIONING THE IMPACT. (0.C.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. That more wheat will lie grown as a result of moat restrictions, especially in Canterbury, is predicted by Mr. H. F. Nicoll. chairman of United Wheatgrowers (N.Z.), Ltd. •■The serious pos?;Mn of the moat industry, localise of the re* trietions placed upon the freezing of certain classes of meat, makes i; necessary for fanners who have in the past depended largely on lamb and mutton for their income to give immediate thought a* to how they call make the best use of their laud tor next season,'" Mr. Nicoll slate*.

"Canterbury, and to a smaller extent Otago. i. in possibly a better position than any otTicr rtlstrict in New Zealand for making a change to cushion the impact of the fate which has befallen the meat, industry. For two generations, through good times and had. Canterbury ban licen the granary of New Zealand. When war broke out the wheatprowors of Canterotiry made a great effort and have increased the area from 189.2X1 acres in 103!) to 214.00(1 acres to be harvested this year.

"To cover her requirement s, the Dominion needs at least .'{oo,ooo acres, so that for next harvest an increase of 5(i,0OO acres, or even more, is necessary.

"It is impossible for a sheepfarmcr to turn over from sheep to wheatgrowing in a month or two, but those sheepfarmers with suitable land in Canterbury are fortunate, because Canterbury as a whole is well furnished with agricultural and harvesting machinery which can be borrowed or hired by newcomers coining into the industry.

"That more wheat will be grown may be taken for granted, and the Minister for Industrie* and Commerce, the Hon. D. O. Sullivan, is at present working on a scheme that will give farmers some protection against factors over which they have no control, and this scheme, if put into operation, will undoubtedly tend to give confidence to many who are hesitating as to whether or not they can afford to grow wheat for the 1942 harvest. - '