WHEAT CULTURE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3028, 15 March 1917, Page 8

WHEAT CULTURE

■PEOSPEOTS FOB NEXT SEASON. Some weeks ago'tho HOll. W. D. S. /Mac Donald made a public appeal to (farmers owning land capablo of growing ,Tvheat to sow), as much wheat as pos•siblo' tliis yeaft ' This appeal was addressed with special .-emphasis to tho North Canterbury Farmers' Union in a letter sent by tho Minister to i-hat bodv. To this letter tho .Minister has ;reooived.tho following reply from tho •secretary of tho union "Wo note that Oa.binet has dccidcd to guarantee to tr.ko next season's wheat at tho prices quoted, and' trust thatin spite of tho shortage of labour ! "it* *"will "result in 11 fair acreage being ■ sown." "I am dealing further with tjic matter now, 1 ' said tho Minister, referring to tho subject yesterday. ' "I intend! circulansjug most of tho farmers in the south', appealing to them .to oiidcavour to sow sufficient wheat,/10 meet tho requirements of tho Dominion, and 11. ami hoping to visit tho South Island Iprobably at the end of this week orduring next Week to got in touch with .farmers, and find out what, aro tho prospects of a sufficient area of wheat being sown -in ' the coming - season. From information I have it • appears that a large area of tho country has ■been parched: by tho long-continued drought, which makes it very difficult for, tho farmers to do any ploughing at tho present time. However, I liopo to meet tho leading farmers throughout New Zealand during the noxt few days and to go fully into tho matter with them. "I have, had three or four applications from' fanners who ask for assistance/in obtaining improved machinery, such as tractors, for farm work. • TIIO labour difficulty is being considered by the National Efficiency Board, which is working at proposals for making tho best uso of tlfe labour resources of tho country.' l