WHEAT SUPPLIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25579, 5 July 1944, Page 4

WHEAT SUPPLIES

MAINTENANCE PROBLEM APPEAL TO GROWERS t . (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 4. A statement that, although Australian wheat could be procured in almost any quantity, the snipping position was still so serious that it was imperative for wheatgrowers not to slacken in their efforts, but to do their utmost to sow as great an acreage,as possible for the harvest of 1945 was made by the Minister of Supply, Mr D. G. Sullivan, to-day. Mr Sullivan said the quantity of wheat consumed in New Zealand for flour, fowl feed, and other purposes had greatly increased during the war, and was now about 1000 tons per day. Before the war 'the annual consumption of flour was 146,000 tons. This year it would be at least 186,000 tons. “The public should realise that the wheatgrowers ,of the Dominion have contributed very greatly to the war effort by the increased production of wheat during the last five years,” said Mr Sullivan. “ Compared with the five harvests immediately before the war, this increase amounted to a total of 8,488,000 bushels, or approximately 240,000 tons. Had it not been for this additional effort on the part of the wheatgrowers, New Zealand would have T>een in a very poor position for wheat supplies, because, although plenty of wheat was available in Australia, the shipping problem was so great that it would have been impossible to have imported an amount equal to the extra 240,000 tons grown by our own wheatgrowers. As it was, all the available shipping space was used to maintain the heavy reserves built up in 1939, and these reserves are still being maintained by the importation of Australian wheat whenever space is available. “ It is now permissible to make public the fact • that only by, the increased efforts of the wheatgrowers in New Zealand during the war years has a serious flour supply position been averted, ’ Mr Sullivan concluded. ‘‘ I thank them for their work, and trust ■ that they will continue to produce this vital war supply.” "