WHEAT SHORTAGE

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 16016, 26 September 1917, Page 7

WHEAT SHORTAGE

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. (SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") WELLINGTON, September 2-5. A paragraph in "The Press" of Monday, stating that there was a shortage* of wheat in Canterbury, that one large mill had already closod down, and others might be closed down shortly, was referred to by M r Witty in the House of Representatives this afternoon. He asked the Minister of Agriculture what ho proposed to do in the matter, seeing that some millers and farmers were holding large quantities of wheat. The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald. in reply, stated that the Government had managed to get two shipments of Australian wheat before the strike. Acting on certain information received, the Government determined to secure the wheat as quickly as possible, and after the discharge of the last shipment, the vessol was immediately sent hack to Australia to load another shipment. Unfortunately, whilst she was loading the strike occurred. The Government did (not know where the vesse} was now; sho had been diverted to another route. Tho Minister said he did not think any great anxiety need be felt conccrning the wheat supplies. Only six weeks ago tho Prime Minister and he had been bombarded by the millers with protests against the great supply of Australian flour arriving in tho Dominion, and then nest week thoy wero talking about shutting down. His opinion, and that of the Board of Trade, was that it was just as easy to shift flour as wheat from millers storing it up. If it wore necessary to do this, it would bo done. Tho position in regard to stocks held by the farmers would also be investigated.

INTERVIEW WITH THE MINISTER. BOARD OF TRADE TO INVESTIGATE. (sp2c:.a TO "THE fress.") WELLINGTON, September 25. The position in regard to the supply of wheat for tho Dominion was tho subject of an interview between an "EvenPost" , reporter and the Minister of Commerce (the Hon. W. D. S. Mac-r Bahald) this afternoon. The Minister stated that some of the mills had closed down, and there really was a shortage both in the South Island and the North Island, but he added that there was a considerable amount of flour at the different ports of New Zealand, and from ail economical point of view it did not appear that there would be any particular benefit in distributing wheat for milling purpose?.. There appeared, he said, to be a good deal of wheat in Canterbury, sufficient," as far as information was received, to keep that district going until tho end of the year. T{ie chief difficulty . would be Dtmedin, Oamaru, BltifT, Palmerston North, and Auckland. Although some mills might have been shut down, there was no anxiety at present in regard to the supply of wheat and flour. "Our agents in Australia advise us," said the Minr ister, "that there is a possibility of loading wheat for New Zealand, either in Sydney or Melbourne or Adelaide. There is no prospect of any shipment arriving for a week or so. Nothing definite ©an be stated until the industrial trpuolevS in Australia are settled. There will certainly be p. shortage of wheat at the end of t)ie year if wo cannot get supplies from Australia. It all depends on tho termination of the strike and tjie consequent supply of shipping." The Minister was" reminded pf the fact that some days ago Mr G. Witty, M.p. for Itlcearton< asked him a question as to the distribution of supplies among the millgrp. In answer ho said that the millers as a whole must have plenty of flour in stock that- they could not get rid of. As to those who held large stocks of wheat, Wfcil, t)tey had simply bought ahead. If the Government took the wheat from these mills it would have to pay the full rate, 5s IQd per bushel, the price fixed in August- Then they would have to pay oharges for transit and distribution, which would bring tho price up to something over 6s a bushel. That would me{m an increase in tho cost of the loaf. The mere fact of one or two mills closing down did not affect the position i as a matter of fact the bie mills could lc6en three shifty going and make flniir at 103 a ton cheaper than if they only ran one or two.shifts. The Board of Trade, it is understood, ig proceeding to Canterbury to-night to investigate the position.