THURSDAY DEC. 17, 1896. THE WHEAT OUTLOOK.

Hastings Standard, Issue 199, 17 December 1896, Page 2

THURSDAY DEC. 17, 1896. THE WHEAT OUTLOOK.

Wheat has come prominently to the front during the last few months throughout Australasia, and the whole outlook for this particular grain has been .seriously canvassed. The statistical position, as far as the same can be ascertained with any degree of accuracy, points unerringly to a shortage in the supply of the cereal. This year the world is short of wheat, the American crop being small, and the Indian crop a failure, while there are shortages in other directions, and the results will be an enormous gain to the wheat growers of New Zealand. This colony will, supposing the harvest is a nominal one, be the only place in Australasia that will have a surplus for export. Even South Australia, which in the past has been a large contributor to the world's market, will in 1897 be obliged to import for domestic requirements. The Australian Continent has been affected with drought for two successive seasons, consequently the wheat crop this year in the five colonies is a comparative failure. Estimates of the probable deficiency for Australasia have been made by several competent authorities, and is placed at 121,800 to 130,000 tons, after allowing for the estimated surplus from New Zealand. The total requirements and the probable crop of the several colonies stated in bushels is furnished in the following table : COLONY. EEijriKEJIKXTS CROP New South Walt s H. 600.000 7,116,000 Victoria 8,200.000 6,960,000 Queensland ... 2,780.000 150,000 South Australia... 3.450.000 3,300,000 West Australia ... 1.020.000 200,000 Tasmania ... 1.12.1.000 1.100,000 New Zealand ... 5,200,000 7,000,000 Total ... 30.5J73.000 25.826,000 If we omit New Zealand we find that the rest of the colonics will require to make up a deficiency of 6,849,000 bushels, but as this colony will be in a position to contribte 1,800,000 bushels the actual deficiency in Australasia will be 4,549,000 bushels equivalent to about 121,800 tons, and the bulk of this must be imported from the United States. It thus becomes apparent that the price of wheat in Australia will be controlled by the price at which California!! wheat can be landed at the ports. Those who ex-

pect a fairly easy position will bo disappointed for although America will be an exporter, the fact that she will be drawn upon for more than she can conveniently part with, the price of the cereal will ktep high. New Zealand farmers should thus easily realise 5s per bushel for all the wheat exported, which means that nearly half a million or its equivalent will find its way into the colony and add to the comfort and enjoyment of the people. The requirements of Australasia as shown in the above figures include wheat needed for seed. The separate figures are given as under : Colonv. Consumption. Seed. New South Wales 7.800.000 800.000 Victoria 7,000,000 1,200,000 Queensland ... 2,750,000 30,000 South Australia ... 2,250,000 1,200,000 West Australia ... 1,000,000 20,000 Tasmania ... 1,073,000 50,000 New Zealand ... 5,000.000 200,000 Total ... 20.875,000 3.500.000 THE BOROUGH PRINTING AND ADVERTISING. 01-k City Fathers cannot be congratulated on their efforts io assist local industry in their midst. At their meeting last night tenders for advertising borough notices were received, and, although the Standako put in an exceptionally low figure in order to enable our readeis to see what was required, the Council, for the sake of a pound or two, preferred to give it to a Napier paper. When it is considered that the advertising account for the past twelve months docs not amount to a £lO-noto, the high feelings which actuate a majority of our Councillors can be easily judged. Every person outside the Hastings Borough Council knows that advertising at the rate of one penny per inch —the tender accepted —would not pay under any circumstances. " Live and let live" is evidently not the motto which guides the Council, otherwise they would never have accepted such an absurdly low tender. However, we are satisfied we will be able to live in Hastings still, but cannot thank our Borough Councillors for assisting us to do so. It does not seem that fair piny lias boon meted out in regard to the tenders for job printing. Practically, the local tender of Mr A. A. George was only l is Gd over that of the successful Napier firm, provided there are no ballot papers required for the mayoral election, when it is positively lower; but of course local industry must stand aside where such vast amounts are at stake. 11 Advance Hastings" does not appear to be the watchword of our City Fathers.