RAIN AND GAIN-A WHEAT PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 135, 8 June 1920, Page 8

RAIN AND GAIN-A WHEAT PROBLEM

Cabled reports state that the New South Wales rains have not, yet been abundant enough to be entirely droughtbreaking, but that they have saved the wheat crop, and incidentally many hun-' dreds of farmers, from disaster. New Zealand can rejoice in the relief of New South Wales, which may also mean, in a measure, her own relief. In this connection, note the following statement put before the Otago Farmers' Conference':

The area put under wheat in the Dominion was steadily decreasing;. In 1914-15 there were 229,000 acres, but last year there wero only 142.000 acres under wheat., and it had been necessary to buy 4,000,000 bushels in Australia. By July next the kit of that would have been shipped, and it was highly probable that Australia would refuse to sell any. more except at exorbitant rates. It was going to be a serious problem whether they could supply millers with sufficient wheat, to carry on with until the new season's crop was available.

Conveyance of wheat from Australia to New Zealand diverts mui:h-needed shipping from other essential carrying trades —e.g., coal—and is not an ideal arrangement. But if the new minimum prices— with freedom to make the best of a high market—do not tempt New Zealand wheat-growers, what is the consumer to do? His zeal for New Zealand agriculture may justly be tempered with a lively interest in the price-breaking capacity of the Australian rainfall.

An assurance of the Government's desire to provide hydro-electric power was given by the Prime Minister to the South Canterbury deputation which met him yesterday. Never before had the need for electricity been felt so keenly as during the past two years, owing to the coal shortage existing during practically tho whole of this period. Most of the mines wero now working full time, hut it seemed to be impossible to get along without, stoppages of work in coal mines. Even with tho present output, and with additional importation of coal, there was still a shortage of supplies. The Government had determined to push on .with the development of hydro-electric schemes as fast as possible. There was no unwillingness on the part of the Government to so on, with hydro-electric works at present, They were considered In lie tilt rmiat itnpovtßlit'af all publics worki in hind.