SUPPLIES OF WHEAT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16302, 8 February 1915, Page 3

SUPPLIES OF WHEAT

STATEMENT BY MR MASSEY.

RESTRICTIONS REMOVED,

(Pμ United Press Associations WELLINGTON, February 7. The Priims Minister luis in»ued tuo lolloping SLainuiciu-: —'" Aa Un> new seasons wuoat wul aoon bo available, tuo liovcmjjit_iit ha-s recoucidored me pi*>it»on. in accordance wnli us original miein-ions., ami in wual it buiiuvuu to oe tuo unit interest ot all concerned, it lias decided to remove the e-usting restrictions on tlio sale ui wheat. 'i.no producers are entitled to tlio lair market value ol tlio article tliuy raise, and Lo jxiy Uiem lu*> tiuin tins would bo to eoniiscuo part ot their earnings and discourage; th«* cultivation of whuu. m tho future euro will, however, be taken to eoo tba!, ik> cxploiUtion hikes place, and that prices are pot inflated lor speculative purposes. By arranging lor the importation oi a largo quantity ot wheat übe Government, to a certain extent, regulated the market, and prevented anything in the way ol panic or speculative prices. At the wnoat census taken in .November it was ascertained that, exclusive oi tho stocks held by millers, tlie quantity oi wheat in tlie hiUKls oi fanners and merchants amounted to some 228,001) bushels, and in order to ascertain if thtsso etoekd were being marketed another census wae taken on January 25, covering farmers and merchants who were, holders ot 10UO bushels or over in November. The result of the last census shows that only 13,57+ bushels were then held by such persons, and of that quantity 4000 bushels were held under contract of sale, and at least 2000 bushels represented eecoutl or fowl wheat. Thus the position at the present time ie that there us practically no nulling wheat in tho dominion other than those stocks, held by millers. It is clear, therefore, thtit the portion at the present time would have been very acute but for tlio importation of . over half a million bushela by tlie Government, which, -with careful distribution, will be sufficient to carry on until the bulk of the new wheat is available. Relying on re- ' ports received from lieJd inspectors of the Department of Agriculture- in the wheatgrowing districts, it was estimated in December that the total production of the harvest would be 4,620,000 bushels. Since then, however, reports have 'been received indicating that there hae been a considerable improvement in the wheat crops, and that the yield will probably be considerably better than was anticipated. therefore, that the harvest will yield not less than 5,000,000 bushels, and taking into account the 1,000,000 bushels which have been purchased by the Government in Canada, and which it is anticipated will probably oome to hand about September, it is estimated that wheat stocks in New Zealand will bo exhausted prior to tlie harvest of 1916. As previously stated, however, it would be inadvisable to allow the wheat etocke in the country to get too low, and on the present particulars it would appear that iurther supplies would require to be arranged for, so as to be available, in January of next year. It must be remembered, however, that this estimate is based on the aseumption that the present harvest yield will be 5,000,000 bushels. Should it be more or less the estimate would have to bo modified accordingly. The importance of keeping in close touoh with the production has been recognised, and arrangements have been made, beginning with January, to obtain monthly returns of wheat thrashed from all thrashing mill-owners throughout tho dominion. Returns will also be obtained from the Railway Department as to the movement of wheat on the Government railways. It is hoped that with these returns, as well as the usual returns collected from individual farmers, it may be possible to ascertain very accurately the quantity and position of the wheat produced, and with the information so obtained the position can be more accurately reported upon at a later time. In order that the Government maybe kept in close touch with the prices at which wheat and flour are being marketed, the Government statistician has been directed to collect the terms twice a month from all flour millers and from wholesale merchants, showing 'the prices at which wheat and flour have actually been sold by them, and" regulations making the furnishing of these returns oompuleory have been ieeued under " The Census and Statistics Act, 1910." "Reports from the wheat-growing districts," said Mr Maesey, "are very much better than they were a little while ago. Experts consider that the crops in Canterbury and North Otago will average five bushels to the acre more than was anticipated in the early part of Decem'ber. Already some of the present season's crop is coming in, and small quantities are available from the North Island. It has to be remembered, however, that for some time the new wheat will have to be mixed with the old wheat in order to produce first-class flour."

Mr Maesey went on to say that by the time the next foreign shipment of wheat arrived stocks would have become very low, but he did not anticipate any serious difficulty. By the week after next the whole of the wheat ordered from overseas would have arrived in New Zealand, and it must not be forgotten that the Government had secured the option of 1,000;OOD bushels from Canada, to bo delivered in July. "Further," eaid Mr Massey, "in addition, to the imported wheat, we have handled 800 tons of flour, which has been distributed in the various centres as required. We are also in a position to say that there is no quantity of wheat 'being held for the purpose of exploiting the public. Some of the millers hold considerable stocks, but there in no hoarding on the part of millers or farmers. By taking advantage of the machinery possessed by the Registrar-generaTe Department the Government is keeping in touch with the position as it changes from month to month, and this procedure will be continued eight through the present seaeon."

(Fboh Ocb Own Cobbespondknt.) WKr.T.lNtt'l'OK, February 7. This afternoon, the Prune Minister made a statement to a Doiniuion representative regarding thy position concerning the wneat supply for Aew Zealand, "dudging by the present outlook," said Mr Mateey,

"uhe position at the nr3t ot March will be that, including the wheat arranged fot in Canada by the Government and that already on the way to thia country, there will bo approximately 6,500,000 busnels in sig&t. It ii scarcely necessary for me to say teat the prohibition of export from New Zealand will continue, and the duty will be remitted on Hour and wheat in the same way that has been followed since the outbreak ot viur. It is very unfortunate that there should be a scarcity botih in. Australia and New Zealand during the war period, boat I am fairly confident that matters will improve rather than otherwise, and that the. worst of the inconvenience is over. It will be toe duty of the Government, through ite officers, and particularly the Registrargenerai's Department, to watch the position very carefully and regularly, taking particular notice of supplies in hand and of the amount held by any firm or individual. I may just a 9 well say here that, wihile we consider fair trade and fair profits will be allowed, tbe Government will not tolerate any hoarding-up or cornering with the object of bringing about an increase in prices. It is only right to say that we have had very little fault to find in this latter respect, in spite of rumours to the contrary; but it is just as well that I should at this juncture, with the now wheat beginning to come in, strike a note of warning for the benelit of those concerned."

COMPLAINT FROM TARANAKI. (Fboii Ucb Own Corbesfondent.) NEW PLYMOUTH, February 7. Mr Okcy, M.P- for Taranuki, wired to the Primu Minister expressing diss.it .sfaction owing to the whole- of tiie Australian whoat ex Kaiaixii, from Sydney, being distributed anioiig- the southern mills. He pointed out that the southern mills had sufficient ■■vli'iat to keep them working practically right through, whilst the mills in laranaki had to close down for most of the season for want of milling supplies. He also asked for supplies of flour to meet the shortage, which was very acute, among , the bakers of New Plymouth. The Prime Minister replied that Taranaki was not overlooked, lie wholo of the cargoes by the Niagara and Waitcmata had been distributed in the North Island, and New Plymouth had got its share Another steamer would shortly arrive, and her cargo was .mostly available to supply northern applicants. In tibe matter of flour, 70 tons hurl Ixwn purchased and delivered in New Plymouth alone, and, in addition, 15 tons of flour was due at New Plymouth now.