WHEAT GROWING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17428, 15 March 1917, Page 4

WHEAT GROWING.

THE GOVERNMENT’S APPEAL.

MR MACDONALD TO VISIT

CANTERBURY

[Pzp Pxbss Amocutiow.) WELLINGTON, March 14

The Hon W- D. S. MacDonald, Minister of Agriculture, sent a letter some time ago oo the Nortlv Canterbury Farmers’ Union, making an appeal to grow as much wheat as possible for homo consumption. The Minister has now received in reply a letter containing the following passage“ We note that Cabinet ha s decided to guarantee to take next season’s wheat crop at,the prices quoted, and trust that in spite of Iho labour shortage it will result in a fair acreage being sown." “I'am. dealing further with the mat-' ter now,” the Minister added, “and circularising most of the farmers in the south, appealing to them to endeavour to sow sufficient wheat to meet the requirements of tile I am hoping to visit Canterbury and the South Island generally at the end of this week to try* and get in touch with farmers and find out what are the prospects of a sufficient area of wheat being sown in the present season. “ From information I have it appears that a large area of country has b&sn parched by the long-continued drought which makes it difficult fer the farmers to tackle ploughing at the present time. I have had three or four people apply to me for assistance with regard' to agricultural machinery, t ractofs,, and so on. The Government lias no tractors it can lend, but there are local agencies for such tractors, and though the prices are very high, bv taking a number .of machines wo r would get a reduction in price. * “ With* regard ,to the labour question,' the Efficiency Board and subsidiary boards are going into the matter, trying to organise the labour available and find out where we are."