WHEAT OR TURNIPS?

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16994, 3 May 1917, Page 6

WHEAT OR TURNIPS?

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Perhaps it- is because Mr A S Orbell lias attained to the dignity of a member of the Waikouaiti County Council that you have given prominence to his views on the above subject. As an authority on the matter, it is probable that his opinions will not be considered of value outside the council chamber. Mr Orbell states that wo would get cheaper bread if we got our wheat from Australia. That the Government should think otherwise, and is using every endeavour to encourage wheatpossibly of no moment to Mr Orbell. Would we get cheaper bread' Let us take flour prices less than two years ag ?" J 1 ~£ ustrall a it ranged from, £18 or a few shillings more in Adelaide and Melbourne to £19 and over in Sydney and to over £22 in Brisbane. In' New 'Zealand fl °" r o not go beyond £17 10s-or .was it £17? From those figures it would seem that during those months flour , manufactured from Australian wheat ' imported here, plus freight, dues, etc., and without the duty, would have cost us about £20 per ton Perhaps Mr Orbell thinks, that we. would name the price to be paid for the wheat. Therein he is quite mistaken for Australians would jump at the chance of exploiting us, just as Mr Orbell obtains higher prices for his- wool and mutton during the war Mr Orbell states that the people of England are going to starve. In this he is possibly correct, but why axe they likely to starve? The answer 'is be cause .they 'do not grow the wheat that the country should. The land is given over to gentlemen s parks, etc. Apparently Air Orbell is not concerned about the New Zea land nulls, millowncre. and their hundreds of employees and their families. Neither does the practical farmer and grain- grower matter ; if he does not or qannot learn to understand sheep-farming, lit the land be given over to those who do. It is well_ known that once a countrv gives up gram growing it rarelv -returns to it successfully; the cult is lost "to the later generations. Britain to-day is in a parlous condition for want ■ of its ; own grain and mutton. Let us look ahead—to the future. It has been instilled into us for our future guidance that- there is to be a great struggle for the mastery of the Pacific, and one of the principal combatants will be a powerful nation, at present our ally. It may not bo in our time; it may bo sooner than we expect—before wc are ready. When it does come —at a time when Britain is fiercely engaged elsewhere,—powerful fleets will separate us entirely from Australia, and if we are'not grain growers Britain's' experience of to-day will be ours—i.e.. if wo resist, we shall be starved. When Australia again has a bad season what will prices be ? Remember also that we'require for horses cattle, pigs, and poultry grain and offal' such as bran, pollard, sweepings, etc. A.re those in such businesses to be on Australia for supplies? Mr Orbell's business is .simply to sit down and watch tho grass and the wool grow without effort on his part, but thousands of others are not so fortunately placed.— I am, etc. May 1. .New Zealand' First. [Mr Orbell is a member of tho Board of Agriculture.—Ed. 0.D.T.1