A REVIEW

Hokitika Guardian, 12 July 1940, Page 3

A REVIEW

WOULD SHOIITAGB OF WHEAT. * (Per Press Association—Copyright).. CHRISTCHURCH, July 11. 0 In peace time an analysis of ft I: e general wheat position would have ' been simple. Oiily once before - Las a larger harvest than that of 1939-4,0 1 been gathered, the total production having been 4,183,000,000 bushels, epmn pared with the record of 4,508,000,000 s bushels in 1938-39 and an average, of - 3.480:000,Q0Q .bpsheSs .for the years. L|23r 27. The,ravaging of Europe by /war,n -the dislocation of primary production h .that has resulted, and the . closings: ‘of r valuable import,mar,kets have madq the i whole position obscure and difficult] of r assessment., • - ■. . j' : • v The decrease; for the current cereal - year was due mainly to the unexpe.t- - ediy poor harvest in Argentina and "a reduction of 20sper cent, in the arOk t-' sown’in the United States, while pjiftn 1 crops were gritttfh'rin- France, Hollahcl, . and Spain; but the movement iow.-ir.ds• sell'-,sufficiency iu Continental countries is reflected in the production there of nearly L 400,000,000 bushels, against an „ a veiqige v.-p-P 1,090,000,000 bushels lor 1923-27. ' ’ * i A certain measure of amelioration , h

* .of .the bad statistical,..position-.: .tlial had developed; .(th,e . carry-over, Jol ejxp.orta.blq, surpluses, as,.at. ,Jw-ly r 31st next would be sufficient tor ;\ll nopjia import requirements without thp ;adjditi'on of any new wheat) ,was a .by, the building tip of stocks in IJritilir apd elsewhere as ’emergency', reservjes. Biit impoi'ts '. to.’ Norway; Slollaikd. •Denmark, France' Italy and Gefhiam,\ must ncnv be suspended; and .as the aggregate yield-'will' almost' certainly be below the'average, and as none! ol tTi’eso countries dips’ attained' selfsufficiency it is difficult to see how a shortage in Europe can be avoided. , -■■■ ~4\ ww’ !