FLOUR AND THE WAR.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 21 October 1914, Page 7

FLOUR AND THE WAR.

- WORLD-YfIDE SHORTAGE.

Public attention has been drawn to •the greatly' enhanced price of flour in ~N&w Zealand since war broke out with 'Germany and England.'The conclusion jumped at was that the war "shad- brought about this state of affairs, -arid was actually the sole and only reason for the increase in price. But, ?as a matter of fact, it is pointed out, •the shortage in the world's wheat supply last year lies at the bottom of the prices that are to-day being asked for ".nulling : grain .in New Zealand, '. Aus-. •fcralia^ America, and Europe. In our own case the anticipated shortage for last season of wneat actually ■ required for local consumption was 1,000,----'Ooo.bushels ,_ but it was discovered after :threshing time that the shortage nearly doubled that quantity. That led the_ wheat farmers of Australia and New 'Zealand to prick up their ears and i Jvatch'.''for:.a"-..QOup.' A careful study of since June last year (when the accurate extent of the shortage became known)), informed the farmers that they had "a. good thing on" if they, could hold stocks for a 'season. There was. then no whisper of war to the market, and i yet prices steadily hardened through the year. Last season found the American crop ;all too little for the demands, and right ■—^SkJfe? crucial moment when the wheat tT^^S^'eing harvested came; the war (obthe Dominion).-.;•-■',;;:; "■';• '''■'■;' ":--:;yM ■