SUPPLIES OF WHEAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15830, 29 January 1915, Page 5

SUPPLIES OF WHEAT.

ANOTHER CENSUS TAKEN.

SHORT .DOMINION STOCKS:

THE IMPORTED SHIPMENTS.

[TIT TV.: l.'.K M'H --OWN correspondent.]

Wellington, Thursday. A statement regarding our wheat stocks has boon prepared by the Government statistician, Mr. Malcolm Fraser.

•The Government took a census on November 18 last, covering farmers, millers, and merchants, and it was found that, exclusive of millerswho held principals for their own manufacture — stock in the hands of farmers and merchants amounted to 228,717 bushels, of which l r i'.OOO bushels were held in lots of 1000 ushels and over," states Mr. " aser. "In order to ascertain the position at the present time, the Government has just completed another census covering those farmers or merchants who held stocks of 1000 bushels or over in November last, and it is found that out of the 197.000 bushels then held by such persons only 13,574 bushels are in their hands at present, and of that quantity 4000 bushels are held under contract of sale, and at leaj-t 2000 bushels represent seconds or fowl wheat."

It is, therefore, practically correct to say that beyond the stocks of wheat held by millers there is no milling wheat whatever in the Dominion to-day, and it is obvious that if the Government had not made arrangements ,for the importation of half a million bushels to arrive in New Zealand at the present time there would sot have been sufficient wheat in the country to carry on until the next harvest came in. The prompt action of the Government, however, has saved the situation, and with the supplies just arrived and arriving there will be sufficient wheat to supply the people's need until tb/ new /nheat comes to hand

"The Government is fully alive to the future,'' said the Prime Minister to-day,' "and is taking special steps by collecting returns from threshing-mill owners to keep in touch with the actual production of the harvest from time to time, so that whatever action may be necessary to safeguard the necessities of the people throughout the coming year may be taken as soon as the necessity arises. The acuteness and seriousness of the present position, however, cannot be denied, and only the action of the Government in providing the half-million bushels now coming to hand has saved the situation." POSITION IN AUSTRALIA. MR. A. FISHER QUESTIONED. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. The Right Hon. Andrew Fisher, Prime Minister of Australia, declines to express any opinion as to the wisdom or otherwise of the action of the State Government of New South Wales in seizing all the wheat {ard dealing with it, nor would be, when questioned on the subject to-day, say whether, as has been stated by journals ivi Australia and by meetings of farmers ell over the wheat districts, it was possible that the fixing of a low maximum price for wheat was likely to discourage farmers from sowing, and so to reduce next year's harvest.