DOMINION NEWS WHEAT ACREAGE SECOND LOWEST SINCE 1876

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1946, Page 9

DOMINION NEWS WHEAT ACREAGE SECOND LOWEST SINCE 1876

The area estimated to be planted in wheat for the coming season (140,000 acres) is, with only one exception, the smallest wheat acreage known in New Zealand since the 1870’s. The one exception was the 1919-20 season. These figures were given yesterday at the meeting of the Wheat Research Institute in Christchurch. Members at the meeting were' told by the executive head of the institute (Dr. O. H. Frankel) that in the 1876-77 season 141,614 acres of wheat were sown. At that time, however, the area planted was 36.6 acres for each 100 persons of population, and there was a net export of wheat of 457,000 bushels. This season the acreage planted represented 8.4 acres for each 100 persons, and “a good deal more than half of New Zealand’s requirements would have to be imported,” Dr. Frankel said. The area of wheat threshed in the last season (1946) was 161,049 acres, which itself' was the smallest acreage grown in the Dominion since 1925-226. The mean average over the last 10 years is 222,147 acres.

Oil Shortage at Lyttelton. “The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company is interested in securing a site on our reclaimed land, and it is definite that the company will take 10 acres for its oil tanks,” said Mr. W. S. MacGibbon, the chairman, at yesterday’s meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board. “The company is impressed with the site, and the facilities the port can offer it in carrying on its business.”

Troops on Way Home.. Carrying the last of the American forces to leave Australia, in addition to several Australian war brides and children of American servicemen, the United States Army transport Wisteria arrived at Auckland on Tuesday to pick up supplies. Two American seamen joined the ship at Auckland. The Wisteria sailed for Seattle yesterday afternoon, and will call at Honolulu. —(P.A.)

Supplies of Wrapping Paper. There will be a greater shortage of wrapping and tissue paper, and of cardboard, in New Zealand during the next year than there has ever been, according to Mr H. V. Everton, of Neil, Crooper, Ltd., who has just returned from a business trip to Canada and the United States. He said Canadian manufacturers were making allocations of paper which were about equal to 1946 supplies to various countries. This, however, was much less than the pre-war levels, and there would be insufficient supplies to meet the demand. —(P.A).

Relief of Airmen in Japan. The-relief of airmen of No. 14 (Fighter)) Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force, who have been serving in Japan since early this year as part of the British Commonwealth forces of occupation, has already begun. Two drafts, each of 10 men, have returned to New Zealand, and thiee replacement drafts of 30 men in all have left for Japan. The airmen for No. 14 Squadron are all volunteers, as were those now being replaced. It is expected that the original umt, which went from Auckland to Japan in the fleet carrier, Glory, will have been fully relieved by next March, and that among the last to be repatriated will be pilots who fly the squadron’s Corsair fighters. fine transfer of squadron members is being done by air.—(P.A.)