THE EMPIRE’S WHEAT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8331, 17 January 1913, Page 8

THE EMPIRE’S WHEAT

A new aspect to the advocacy of a duty on foreign wheat imported into England as a means of encouraging tho import of wheat from the Dominions is given by the discovery that the Dominions grow more wheat than would supply the wants of the United Kingdom, as against Australia’s 7.6 per 11. H. Bew -in his paper on “Agricultural Statistics’’ road at tho Dundee meeting of the British Association' for the Advancement of Science. But while the wheat exports of the Dominions in 1911 would have been more than sufficient to supply tho needs of the United Kingdom, they were not'all sent there. Great Britain received only 38 per cent, from British possessions. It appear* that during that year Canada sent abroad more wheat than any other country in the world. India Mr Row regards as the most uncertain source of Imperial supply, although in good year* it is one of the most formidable contributors to the wheat imparts of the country. On the other hand, Canada has shown itself to be the most trustworthy source of supply. During the last five years Canada has furnished 13.1 per cent, of the total consumption of wheat and flour of the United Kingdom, as aaginst Australia’s 7.5 per cent., India’s 10.5 per cent., and other British possessions 0.3 per cent. For the same period the United States supplies averaged 1,9.4 per cent., and tho Argentine 14.8 per cent. In 1911 the United States percentage fell to 14.2, and Mr Row adds that “the United States must be regarded as a diminishing exporter.”