THE WHEAT QUESTION.

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 March 1917, Page 7

THE WHEAT QUESTION.

STATEMENT by tjtk minister. [per press association.] WEI J..lNt'T< >N\ March 14. The Hon. W. I). S. .UaeDunaid (Minister of Agriculture) sent a letter some time ago to the North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Fanners' LTuon, making au appeal in grow as much wheat as possible for home eon sumption, 'l'he Minister lias now re reived in reply a letter containing the following l as'sage : "We note llt:i! Cabinet has decided io guarantee to lake,next season's wheat en>p :i t prices quoted, and trust that in spite of the. labour shortage- it will result in ;i fair acreage being sown." "I atn dealing further with 'he mat - tt'r now." the '.Minister added, "and circularising most of the fanners in the S.-ulli. appeal hit,' to them to endeavour to sow sufficient _ wheat to. meet' the requirements of the Dominion, lam hoping to visit Canterbury and the South Island generally at the end of the week to try to get in touch with farmers and find out what are the prospects of a sufficient area or wheat being sown in rite present season. From information 1 have. it appears that a large area of country 'has been parched by a ]oi:jf;-continued draught, which makes it difficult for farmers to tackle ploughing j\t tise present time. "J have had three or four people apply to me for assistance with regard to agricultural machinery, tractors, and "so on. The Government has no tractors it can lend, but there are local agencies for such tractors and thonsth prices are very high, bv taking a number of machines, we would get a reduction in price. With regard to the labour question, the Efficiency Board -ind the Subsiidary Boards are going into the matter, trying to organise tiie labour trouble .and hud out where we are."