WHEAT SHORTAGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 15 June 1920, Page 7

WHEAT SHORTAGE

CANTERBURY FARMERS’. PLEDGE. On the motion of Mr Gr. SliCdi. (Killinchy) it was unanimously resolved at* the Provincial Conference of the North Canterbury Farmers 1 Union’, —‘‘That this conference, in view of the probable world shortage of wheat, pledges itself to do all in its power to induce the farmers to increase the area sown in that cereal, and calls on the Government to use ever; : means at its command to lake .delivery and store the grain when }’h’o disced.’ , Mr Bhoat, after referring to the Press messages regarding the wheat- shortage, said that New Zealand must grow its own wheat or do without, as they could not rely on other countries. _ It was a .matter of self-preservation that the conference, representing .the granary of New Zealand, should pledge itself to grow more wheat and do all it could to induce others to increase the wheat acreage. The wheat-growing proposition was the best gamble that the farmer could go in for to-day. If wheat had to be imported, locally grown would be worth 16s, and if there was a surplus it would he worth 14s. He recognised as a land owner that he had a duty to tlie body politic to wheat on behalf of the nation.