BEER IN AUSTRALIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25799, 21 March 1945, Page 6

BEER IN AUSTRALIA

ACUTE SHORTAGE PROBABLE (Rec. 10 p.m.) CANBERRA, Mar. 20. The beer shortage in Australia is likely to become acute owing to lack of barley. The authorities fear that any lessening of the already inadequate supplies will accentuate “ black marketing.” Australia’s barley crop is so small that tests are now being conducted with Canadian malting barley. Canadian malting barley presents special brewing problems, but if these can be overcome Australia will seek to secure its barley requirements for beer from Canada. Australia’s barley crop is 20 per cent, below the minimum requirements. The beer shortage is being aggravated by the difficulty of getting men to work as maltsters, and also because the supplies of bottles are inadequate. It is understood that unless Canadian grain proves suitable and sufficient shipping is found for imports, a reduction of beer supplies is inevitable.