THE NEW WHEAT CROP

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23191, 30 November 1940, Page 10

THE NEW WHEAT CROP

FULL REQUIREMENTS POSSIBLE GROWERS’ OPINIONS The opinion that New Zealand stands a possibility of producing this harvest sufficient wheat for a full year’s requirements is held by most of the members of the electoral. committee of United Wheatgrowers (N.Z.), Ltd., of which the annual meeting was held in Christchurch yesterday. It was generally agreed that the Government Statistician’s estimate of the area under wheat, published recently, was too conservative. Members were present from every wheatgrowing district in New Zealand, and all agreed that the rain recently arrived in time to save the crops. It appears that wheat in every district is looking very well, and the somewhat disquieting outlook of a fortnight ago has been entirely changed. Reference to the possibility of an adequate crop this harvest was made by the chairman, Mr H. F. Nicoll, who in his address to the meeting, said:—

“The war effort of New Zealand, which is greater than most of us realise, was increased in tempo and wheatgrowers were second to none in their efforts to increase production. Unfortunately a very wet May prevented sowing on the heavier lands, especially those in the Ellesmere district, where large areas were prepared for wheat. The heavy land farmers were not deterred with this set-back and made arrangements to sow their land in the spring. "Statistics collected by the members of the Electoral Committee in July indicated that the area under wheat would be greatly increased and 230,000 acres appeared to be in sight. This area would have been sown but for the disastrous weather in the spring, and when the time for sowing wheat was past, the land prepared for that crop had to be used for other products, with the result that the area in peas and barley was increased. "In a recent press statement after the Government Statistician published figures showing that the area in wheat was less than last year, the Minister for Supply (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) thanked the wheatgrowers for their effort and stated that as the land was used for peas and barley, both of which are urgently needed for txie war effort, the loss of wheat acreage might be a blessing in disguise. All wheatgrowers will be gratified that the Minister took such a judicious view of the position, and it is a further indication that he understands the problems which face the wheatgrower. “Many wheatgrowers and others connected with the industry feel that the statistician’s estimate is on the low side and it is still possible that a full 12 months’ requirements may be produced. Crops generally are looking well and the recent rain made a wonderful difference to our prospects, which were commencing to look dismal because of the drought and high winds in October and the first half of November. The carry-over is greater than for several years and there is sufficient wheat in the country to see us through till about the end of May, 1941, without drawing on the new crop,”