THE WHEAT SUPPLY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16296, 1 February 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE WHEAT SUPPLY

PRIME MINISTER'S EFFORTS. LARGE AMOUNT PAID FOR SUPPLIES. Speaking to an Otago Daily Times reporter on Jan. 28, the Hon. Mr Allen, Minister of Finance, made some interesting observations on the large quantity of wheat brought into this country since the beginning of the war. "I don't think," said Mr Allen, "the people of the country fully realise the great debt they owe to the Prime Minister for the thought and the enormous amount of energy he has put into the question of our wheat and food supplies generally. I know from personal knowledge he has never spared himself a moment, and I think he has met the difficulty with extraordinary success. "It is not difficult to realise what would have been the position had tho Prime Minister not taken early steps to cope with the wheat difficulty in tho only way it could be effectively coped with, and that was to bring in wheat supplies and flour from outside, and to take off the duty on importations of wheat and flour.

"The matter oomes home to me particularly as Minister of Financc, because it has been my business to financc the supply of wheat and flour. I have by mo the particulars of the wheat supply, but I have not at the present moment the facte regarding the flour supply which has been brought in. "The shipments of wheat for New Zealand were as follow: —

Shipment. Cost. First from Australia £12,000 First from Canada (Niagara) 3,800 Second from Canada (Waitemata) ... 4,074 Third from Canada (Hornerlen) ... 33,552 Fourth from Canada (Borderdale) ... 3,571 Fifth from Canada (Hoperoa) ... 99,250 Second from Australia (Kaiapoi) ... 31,021 Total £187,268 'Of til is amount I have already paid out of the 'ireasury ±1117,000. It may be quite true that some of the millers had loretliought, and were financially strong enough to provide sufficient supplies to keep thein going till next harvest; but it is certainly true that a great many other millers had not made such provision. These millers, or most of them, are being kept going by Government supplies, for which they pay a very reasonable price. There have been some little temporary dislocations because of wheat not coming in quick enough, as in the case of the Kaiapoi: but, on tne whole, I think we have been fortunate in New Zealand when we compare our position with that of other countries." GOVERNMENT SAVED THE SITUATION. WHAT THE RETURNS SHOW. WELLINGTON, January 28. A statement has been prepared by the Government Statistician (Mr Malcoim Fraeer) showing the state of our wheat stocks. Earl} realising tho seriousness ol the position of the wheat supply, tho Government took a census on November 18, covering fanners, millers, and merchants, and' it was found, says Mr Fraser, that, exclusive of millers, who held principally for their own manufacture, the stocks in the bunds of farmers and merchants amounted to 228,717 busliels, of which 197,000 was held in lots of 1000 and over. In order to ascertain the position at the present timo the Government .tas just completed another census, covering those farmers or merchants who held stocks of 1000 or over in November, 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 the present time, and of that quantity 4000 is held under contract of sale, and at least 2000 bushels represents .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 must bo obvious to any unbiased person 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 not have been sufficient wheat in tho country to carry on until the next harvest came in. The prompt action of the Government, however, has saved tho situation, end with the rupplies just arrived, and arriving, there will be sufficient wheat to supply the people's need until the new wheat comes to hand.

"The Government is fully alive to the future." said the Prime Minister, referring to tho above subject, "and is taking special steps by collecting returns from thrashing mill owners to keep in touch with tho 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 tho necessity arises. The acuteness and seriousness of tho present position, however, rannot be denied, and only tho action of the frovernment in providing the holf-million bushels now coming to hand has saved the situation."

GOVERNMENT'S ENERGETIC ACTION.

WELLINGTON, January 29.

The Prime Minister lias received the option of purchase over 1,000,000 bushels of Canadian wheat for July delivery. This large quantity will be held in stock in Canada, until required in New Zealand. If it is n,ot needed here there will be no loss to New Zealand, as it is quite certain that the wheat will realise later on the price arranged to be paid for it, or perhaps oven a higher price. The outlook here is, however, so uncertain that the Government thought the proper thing to do was to be prepared for any shortage that might possibly arise as the'result of the dry season that has been experienced in New Zealand. The splendid work that has been and is being done by the Government, and by Mr Massev in particular, both with resrard to the supply of wheat and flour and in getting our refrigerated cargoes to the British market is now being generally recognised.