WHEAT ACREAGE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23940, 6 May 1943, Page 6

WHEAT ACREAGE

PROMISING SITUATION IN CANTERBURY

NO ACUTE LABOUR SHORTAGE General satisfaction was expressed at a meeting of the North Canterbury District Council of Primary Production in Christchurch yesterday at prospects for the next wheat season. Reviewing the situation, Mr H. Worrall, liaison officer for the wheat campaign, said: “We are not going to get the 350,000 acres that we aimed at, but we will get very close to the minimum required.” The position had improved very considerably from what it was, he added, even six weeks ago. Much depended, nevertheless, on climatic conditions. The labour situation, he declared, had also shown improvement. North Canterbury was reasonably supplied with men. The position was not quite so good in Mid-Canterbury, but it was hoped to get men from the northern end of the South Island to help. In a few days it was hoped that the position in South Canterbury would be satisfactory. “I do not suggest for one moment that there is a surplus of labour,” said Mr Worrall, ‘‘but the actual requirements for cultivation are being met. I think we should be very grateful to the Army for its co-operation.”

The chairman (Mr R. T. McMillan): I think it is very encouraging to this council to know that things* have gone as well as they have. “I only wish that we could get *the same help for the dairy industry as when you put the wheat in,” commented Mr J. R. D. Johns.