N.S.W. UNABLE TO MOVE WHEAT CROP QUICKLY ENOUGH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22696, 22 July 1948, Page 5

N.S.W. UNABLE TO MOVE WHEAT CROP QUICKLY ENOUGH

SYDNEY, July 21.

Federal help is being sought in moving 38,000,000 bushels of _ wheat still stored in country districts in New South Wales, according to the Stata Minister of Agriculture, Mr. E. Graham.

This immense quantity of grain, weighing over 1,000,000 tons, occupied storage needed for the coming harvest, he said.. Rats and mice were attacking it m ever-increasing numbers. Mr. Graham said the movement of the wheat must be regarded as a national problem. He urged a larger coal allocation to New South Wales and greater use of shipping to move coal to other States, thus freeing railway trucks for the carriage of wheat. Last year the State had the equivaletn of two years’ harvests in one which was a fact which had not beentaken into consideration when coal needs were discussed. Since November, 1947. the railways carried to Sydney or Newcastle 47,000,000 bushels of wheat. At this rate they would need another six months to clear the remaining stores. The new harvest begins next November and early indications are that it also will be well above the average. The plague of rats and mice in the grain areas is also reaching record proportions. Early this year the department had 20000 trucks engaged in carrying the grain. Because of the coal shortage the number has been reduced to 1250 and a further 4000 trucks are standing idle.

MELBOURNE TO BUY ENGLISH. CEMENT

MELBOURNE, July 21.

Unable to buy enough Australian cement for urgent works the Melbourne Board of Works is ordering 1000 tons of cement from England at three times the local price. This decision coupled with the present gas and power rationing and moves to import coal from outside Australia emphasises the shortage ot coal and the decline in local production. The board is also considering seeking other sources for the supply of galvanised iron, barbed wire, hydraulic scoops and cast-iron pipes.