WHEAT FROM AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16904, 17 July 1918, Page 6

WHEAT FROM AUSTRALIA.

Two million bushels of wheat have been purchased by the Government in Victoria to supply the. deficiency in the local production. The last harvest showed a slightly higher yield than that of 1917, but the shortage below the annual consump tion is again serious. It is in fact recognised that the actual needs of the Dominion were barely met by last year's transaction with the Commonwealth Government, under which the Government imported during a period of eleven months a total of 1,200,000 bushels, and the purchase of a double quantity this year, in spite of an increased harvest has apparently been necessary to establish a more secure reserve. That the Dominion should be compelled in these times to supplement it*, own production of breadstuffs is unfortunate, as experience has shown that imported wheat is more costly than tho home-grown commodity, and the difference is neoessarily reflected in the general cost of living. There seems little doubt that the present transaction will confirm last year's experience, for, unless tne purchase has been made on exceptionally favourable conditions, this Victorian wheat will be delivered at a cost in advance of the prices guaranteed to New Zealand farmers. The Minister for Agriculture describes the terms as "satisfactory in the circumstances," but there is reason for believing that if he had promptly acknowledged the inevitable shortage, as soon as it appeared that the forecasts of an abundant harvest would not be realised, and given earlier instructions to his agents, a more economical contract might have been effected. From the public point of view, an unsatisfactory feature of the Minister's announcement is the absence of information regarding the price to be paid. This is obviously of very, wide interest, since any advance in the cost of wheat to the millers may involve an adjustment of the present fixed price of flour, But the Government prefers to treat the most innocent domestic affairs as military secrets of the gravest importance, and whether it be the purchase of improved estates for the prosecution of an ill-advised settlement scheme or the buying of wheat in Australia, it asks the public to accept irritating assurances of satisfactory" terms. Immediately the Government has completed its negotiations with a private individual or with another Government, there can be no further reason for withholding complete information as to the manner in which public money is being expended. This view is avidently taken by the Australian authorities, who have supplied the details lacking in the Wellington statement.