SHIPPING OF WHEAT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17084, 16 August 1917, Page 6

SHIPPING OF WHEAT

GROWING OF WINTER FEED SUGGESTED. DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT. (Fiiom Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 15. An interesting question regarding the growing- of wheat in Now Zealand was asked in the House of Representatives to-day. Dr E. Newman asked tho Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of tho very large supply of wheat in Australia and the fact that tho Government had undertaken to buy the next season's crop in New Zealand, and also that there was likely to bo tho greatest ditlioulty in getting away frozen meat later in the year, the Government would consider the expediency of allowin" farmers to grow winter feed instead of wheat where they had not yet sown tho wheat in land already prepared. The season had been very wet, and a great deal of wheat that would otherwise have been sown was not yet in the ground. He anked whether it would be in tho interests of the country for these farmers to grow winter t©ed tor stock that might have to bo carriod over. Mr Poole: The people's bread must be the first consideration. • : I am asking the question in tho interests of the whole country. Mr Mac Donald said tho Government waa very keenly anxious that tho farmers in New Zealand should grow enough wheat for the requirements of the country notwithstanding the fax:t that there were largo quantities of wheat in Australia. Already the Government had had difficulties in getting the wheat purchased in Australia shipped over here. Two shipments had been brought to New Zealand, and a steamer had been chartered for a third, but instead of 4500 tons which this steamer should have loaded it could onjy get 260 tons, and then it had to go to Fiji to load sugar. These were tho difficulties that occurred when relying upon an outside supply. The Government had expected to get all the wheat shipped over here before the end of December, but it was uncertain now when the wheat could bo shipped. In view of the large surplus in Australia he did, not think the Government would ask any farmer to face a loss in trying to grow wheat. There was a very serious trouble facing the farmers in- regard to carrying over stock owing to the freezing works being .full before tho season began, and he thought that wherever possible the farmer should grow winter feed as well as wheat in view °f the uncertainty regarding the export trade. The farmers in the South Island would probably prefer to grow wheat, seeing that the price was guaranteed. He firmly believed that it was absolutely necessaxy _to grow enough wheat for our own requirements in view of the great d'fficulty of getting wheat carriod to New Zealand.