BEER SHORTAGE

Grey River Argus, 21 March 1945, Page 5

BEER SHORTAGE

AUSTRALIA’S BARLEY INADEQUATE

(Rec. 8.35) CANBERRA, March 20 The beer shortage in Australia is likely to become acute, owing to the lack of barley. The authorities fear that any lessening of the already inadequate supplies will accentuate the black marketing. Australia’s barley crop is so small that tests are now being conducted with Canadian malting barley. Canadian malting barley present special brewing problems, but if these can be overcome, Ausstralia will seek to secure its barley requirements for beer from Canada. Australia’s barley crop is twenty per cent, below the minimum requirements. The beep shortage is being aggravated by the dificulty of getting men to work as maltsters, and also because the supplies of bottles are inadequate. It is understood that, unles the Canadian grain proves suitable, and unless sufficient shipping is found for imports, a reduction ot the bee? supplies is inevitable.