DOMINION'S WHEAT

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 122, 19 November 1940, Page 8

DOMINION'S WHEAT

AN AMPLE SUPPLY

REASSURING STATEMENT

A normal wheat yield in the comingharvest even on the somewhat disappointing estimate of sowings recently announced by the Government Statistician will give New Zealand enough wheat to last till the 1942 harvest is ready, said the Minister of Supply, Mr. Sullivan, in Christchurch yesterday Stocks in the country at present were enough to last till May, 1941. The Minister said that early estimates of the total sowing had been affected by the wet weather in September, which allowed little spring sowing; but some acreage sown by farmers who had not previously grown wheat, and not included in the estimate, might alter the figures. Although all early reports had indicated that a full twelve months' requirements of wheat would be grown, he had deemed it wise while in Australia in July to make assurance doubly sure by arranging with the Australian Government for the purchase of a reserve stock of 1,000,000 bushels. ] This reserve was now nearly all in ] New Zealand and was being stored by j the flourmillers at no expense to the Government. This meant that without touching the new crop the Dominion had sufficient wheat and flour to carry through till the end of May, 1941. Even if the actual sowings were not j greater than the estimate, a normal yield in the coming harvest would supply enough wheat to carry on till the harvest of 1942 withbut any further importations. "The reduced area in wheat has proved a blessing in disguise, for when it became too late for wheat, the land prepared for this crop was sown down in peas and barley, and both these products are as essential as wheat for the war effort. Britain needs the peas while barley is wanted to produce the additional pig meat asked for by the I Mother Country. The land now in peas will be in first-class order for wheat next year. "The main point is that, our flour and bread position is assured, while the paddocks- which could not be sown to wheat because of the wet spring were turned to excellent account in the war effort. I want to thank all wheat growers for their response to the call made upon them. "In addition to wheat supplies, emergency flour stocks have been established in North Island centres by the Wheat and Flour Controller. Certain South Island flourmillers undertook to } store a large proportion of this Hour at their own expense. This, and ! the storing of the emergency wheat ! stocks, is not the only contribution to [ the war effort made by the flourmillers 'and I greatly appreciate the assistance they have so willingly given." |