WHEAT DAMAGED BY MICE.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 30938, 23 July 1917, Page 8

WHEAT DAMAGED BY MICE.

BIDDEN OF HEAVY LOSSES. An interesting controversy is proceed' ing in Australia as to whether tho Fedoral Government, the Imperial' Government or tho grower is to boar the burden of the heavy losses that arc being caused by mice to the wheat ciop that is stored in the open in many paits of the comitiy awaiting shipment. The following opinion on the position appears in a recent issue of the Sydney Morning Ilerald:-

"Acording*to tho letter of the law the wheat belongs to the wheat pool, ■which holds it in trust -for the growers, There has never been any doubt as to the, fact that the pool was formed for, and-on behalf of, the growers, the Government controlling,it in their interests. The tna'nncr of the control is quite apart from the issue. The Govern-, nicnt lias not purchased the wheat from the growers, but has taken delivery of 'it, and made advances against it from time to timcßcgarding the sale to the Imperial Government it must be remembered that two-thirds of the new crop has not been sold to the Imperial Government as appe'ars to be the impression in some quarters. And what was _ sold was sold at the sellers' risk' until August. After that it will be held at the risk of the Imperial Government. Therefore it can hardly be argued that the latter should be responsible for the dnmnge done by the mice.

"At the same time, it will not be equitable if the grower should have to bear the entire cost of this calamitous visitation, ami tho matter is one that will require to be carefully considered by the I 'Government, which may.be depended upon to lake a sympathetic view of the farmer's position. For the present, however, a waiting policy must, be adopted, as it is first, neeesary to ascertain what is the amount of the damage."