BIGGER WHEAT CROP EXPECTED THIS YEAR

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28669, 20 August 1958, Page 17

BIGGER WHEAT CROP EXPECTED THIS YEAR

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, August 19. Given favourable weather it is expected wheat sowings in 1958 will show a marked increase, according to the annual report of the Department of Industries and Commerce, tabled in Parliament today. The section of the report written by the Wheat Committee says production at the 1956-57 level represented only about one-fifth of New Zealand’s needs. The 1956-57 crop was 2.95 million bushels from 66,000 acres, one of the smallest areas ever sown in wheat. The 1957-58 crop was slightly larger—3 million bushels from 67,000 acres.

“The Wheat Committee has viewed with increasing concern the decline in production in this country, one effect of which has been to narrow the safety margin of reserves, and to leave the position so heavily dependent on imports with attendant risks of shipping and supplies,” says the report. “Along with other organisations directly interested in the wheat question, the committee welcomed the Government’s announcement in January of an increase in price to South Island

growers of 2s a bushel, and 6d to North Island growers, of wheat to be harvested in 1959, making the price to South Island growers 13s 6d a bushel f.0.r., and to North Island growers 14s 6Jd. “The price increase comes at a time when other factors in the situation favour a return to wheat production, particularly the development of higher yielding wheats, and the change in outlook for certain other farm products.”

Last year, four 5000-ton and one 3000-ton vessel were continuously employed moving Australian wheat to New Zealand. By the end of the year, 10,111,973 bushels had been landed at New Zealand ports. The Australian Wheat Board agreed to treat New Zealand as a priority market, and offered to supply New Zealand’s requirements in 1958.

Today, New Zealand’s consumption is placed at 13.3 million bushels, comprising 8.6 million bushels of flour, 4.3 million bushels of feed and seed, and .4 million bushels of breakfast foods. Trade in flour and wheatmeal in 1957-58 reached a new record of 199,860 tons, in keeping with the increasing demand arising from the growth of population. Trading figures for the year ended January 31, 1958, with figures for the previous year tn parenthesis, are: New Zealand wheat, 8,891,087 bushels (1,791,617): Australian wheat,' 10,000,939 bushels (10,142,353). The subsidy payment in 195758 was £3.530,130, an increase of £558.052 on the amount for 195657. The average cost of Australian wheat to New Zealand was Ils 1.34 d f.o.b. Australian ports..