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Maoriland Worker, Volume 6, Issue 243, 13 October 1915, Page 6

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THE WHEAT PROBLEM. Editor, '.'Tho Maovihuul Worker," —in your issue of August Loth, there appears an article, on "Tho Wheat Problem," by Mr. Hod Ross. Ho has given such a- rosy coloring to the protit, side of iho question :is niight be very misleading to tho uninitiated. In introducing myself to tho subject., I may. state that I have, -hern engaged in mixed farming in different, pari* of .Vow Zealand for about twenty years, .'.-nd nh'o for* somo yonrs ran a throbbing plant in sonic of the chief, grain centres. I am rjuito in' accord with tho writer in I'drocating State Food production for tho use of tho people, but I. seo no use for building up-statistics that could havo no practical. valuo in ■pushing such n scheme*, in tho first place, Mr. Ross must know that ,a feu; acres of somo prize wheat grown On n. State Experimental farm, practically under hothouse'conditions,-could bo no criterion of what-a. yield on an area of 100,000 acres would be. Again, ho-estimates tho profit basis ( of prices obtained for n few bushels sold at here and thero for teed purposes. If we are going to try and'put forward a. scheme that might bo a guide for use,' we cannot oven use war prices—about 6s. 6d. per bushel. We must-estimate on ._. basis that would give the people bread st nlc.ut od. to 6d. per >! lb', loaf. That would mean about 4s. per bushel. Tbe present averago per acre'of wheat grown in New Zealand is about thirty bushels. Under State conditions, where only wheat land would be U6ed and the best scientific methods adopted, tto could reckon on an average of from forty to forty-rivo bushels per aero, and if Mr. Ross had ever seen a, wheat crop of that average at its ripening stage, it would make him wonder-where an extra thirty bushels could bo placed. Mr:'Ross's estimate of the cost of. production: is a very fair one, .though I doubt if it would cover - the icost of the crop ho quotes, as I have yet to learn of any of our State Experimental Farms that aro paying their way,• lbt ulono making a profit. I claim.that we could reckon ou a. profit of about £3 per aero on State-grown wheat, and supply tbo 1-lb. loaf at od; to fri., and that over -00.000 acres would .accrue a very handsome profit to tho State. I don't think Mr. Ross is quite. fair to suggest our present system of wheat growing as muddling along, at least without) condemning individualism altogether. Tho farming community no doubt havo their proportion of muddlers but tbo average farmer has other handicaps. Some farmers , aro trying to produce on land not best suited, for. wheat-growing. In .different, parts of New. Zealand they havo not the same favourahlo conditions, and again, -many are handicapped by. a lack-of capita], and .consequently may not be able-to employ the most tip-to-date machinery or may not bo able io manure to tho full advantage. Bonce the present low averago per aero'of.-wheat in Now Zealand. Hoping a littlo friendly comment and criticism may help to ..interest "people in above subject. - •- ■" J. D. HEENAN.