OUR WHEAT SURPLUS

Evening Star, Issue 20034, 27 November 1928, Page 11

OUR WHEAT SURPLUS

A CHRISTCHURCH SUGGESTION GIVE IT TO STARVING CHINESE [Special to the ’ Sria. 1 ] CHRISTCHURCH, November 26. A proposition contained in a letter received by the ‘ Sun ’ to-day from Mr J- E. Strachan (president of the Canterbury Progress League), and head master of the Rangiora High School, that the surplus New Zealand wheat should bo given to ease the famine situation in China mot with a mixed reception when it was outlined to a number of representative Christchurch people. One man claimed that before extending aid to China that would probably not be appreciated New Zealand should first attend to the situation in England. Mr Strachan’s letter was as follows:—“To the editor of the‘Sun’: Sir, —A Press Association message from Shanghai, dated November 20, stated that 12,000,000 Chinese have reached starvation point, and that the total will reach 20,000,000 when the famine reaches its height in Northern and Central provinces. At the beginning of this year it was estimated that the New Zealand wheat crop would bo anything up to 2,000,000 bushels more than wo could consume. The estimate was, as it turned out, much too generous. Still, there is a surplus. Not much of it is in the hands of the farmers, but the millers are holding good stocks. Moreover, next year’s Australian crop will probably bo a big one, so that the New Zealand market at the opening of the new season is likely to be sluggish. In other words, our big supplies in hand and in sight are embarrassing. Wo cannot profitably sell wheat overseas. Why not give it away to China? The idea is, of course, preposterous, and shows how little I know about economics. Those who believe in nothing beyond small profits and quick returns will doubtless read no further, but the Oriental world is waiting for a friendly gesture from the Christian nations of the West. It is not long since, without turning a hair, we allowed the Prime Minister, in our name, to give away a couple of millions for the Singapore base. That is the kind of gesture the Orient is familiar with. For us, of course, it was a kind of insurance policy to preserve peace in the Pacific. I suggest that we should try this other kind of insurance policy. It is cheaper anyway Those who know tho Chinese best say that they are faithful friends who nover forget a kindness. lam convinced that if we, the people of Now Zealand, wore to buy up all tho wheat that can be spared and have it shipped off to starving China such a dramatic act would have a profound effect upon the whole Oriental world, and would do more to ensure peace for the next fifty years in tho Pacific than the establishment of half a dozen naval bases. In fact, the Orient might even come to believe that we arc a Christian nation.”

Professor A. H. Tocker, interviewed, said that if there was such a largo surplus and it was retained here it would probably push down _ the local price. There was no organisation of farmers to hold a surplus off the market. If die wheat could be bought it might profitably be despatched to China, and at the same time relieve the situation here. Tho problem of purchasing the wheat in the first place would have to be considered, for lhose_ holding it would not bo likely to give it away. To give away tho surplus in such a manner would be a g morons act on our part, and at the same time would maintain the stability of our own market

“ It’s a very nice idea in theory, but there are a few difficulties in tho way,” said one of the executive members of a leading city financial firm “The Reds would be a trouble, and it would bn very, very hard to make the ordinary Chinese understand that the wheat had been given to them any how, and why it had been given to thorn. The possible returns would bo very much in the lap of the_gods._ 1 fancy it is a rather fantastic notion. What about our own starving people in Britain? There arc hundreds and thousands of minors and mill hands and others out of work who have not tasted decent broad for a long time. Why not ship the surplus to England and get tho wheat made into bread for the submerged tenth there?”