THE N.S.W. HARVEST.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7253, 8 March 1889, Page 5

THE N.S.W. HARVEST.

—♦- OFFICIAL REPORT. NEW ZEALAND'S OPPORTUNITY. fPER PEXSS ASSOCIATION.] Received March 7th, 9.30 p.m. Sydney, March 7. Following is the Government statistician's official report on the wheat yield, <fee. :—The probable consumption of wheat durinsr 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, as based on the experience of the past ten years, and the mean of ten years, if the average were maintained, would give an estimated consumption of 7,424,000 bushels. To this must be added, however, the quantity required for seed purposes, which is estimated at 562,000 bushels, making a total as above of 7,986,000 bushels. The average consumption per head during the past ten years is given at 67. During the year 1888 New South Wales imported 560,284 bushels from Victoria, 520,324 bushels from South Australia, 456,960 bushels from New Zealand. The opinion is expressed that flour is bound to rise by leaps, that it is unwise to force the price so that people will not buy, and that New South Wales will be able to absorb the whole of New Zealand's surplus 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 certain prejudices exist against New Zealand wheat, those prejudices would be beaten down by force of circumstances, provided the English wheat market maintained a good tone, and that both New South Wales and Queensland are absolutely dependent for their supplies on New Zealand. Regarding the possibility of California competing with New Zealand, the same gentleman said it could not do so unless New Zealand force the price and compel the market to drag. The Californian markets are in unison 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 the English market falls, however, say to 395, and provided New Zealand wheat should be selling at above ss, say at 5s 6d, the Californian growers could successfully compete with the New Zealand growers, otherwise there was not much fear, although American grain would find favor"there.