WHEAT PROBLEM IN AUSTRALIA

Otago Witness, Issue 3169, 9 December 1914, Page 61

WHEAT PROBLEM IN AUSTRALIA

j ACTION IN THE STATES. FEDERAL BUREAU’S ESTIMATE OF YIELD. SYDNEY, December 1. The Government has decided to throw open 40,800 acres of scrub lands near Barcaldine for wheat-growing. The Wheat Bill clauses regarding the abolition of existing contracts are causing much controversy, and the Cabinet is considering the position. December 2. Wheat farmers in New Soum waiea are obtaining better results than had been anticipated. The Government Statistician now estimates a yield of 15,700,000 bushels. In explaining the Wheat Bill, Mr Hall said the Government did not propose to purchase every bushel of wheat grown, but offered 5s per bushel to farmers desiring to sell. In the event of the market falling, it held no responsibility to recoup the farmer for holding stocks. A farmer would not be allowed to sell elsewhere. In the New South W r ales Legislative Assembly the Wheat Acquisition Bill passed its second reading. MELBOURNE, December 2. The Victorian Government has repealed the legislation fixing the prices of wheat, flour, bran, pollard, and bread. The action of the Legislature in repealing fixed prices has caused confusion in the wheat market. The Government is condemned for fixing prices but lacking the courage to commandeer the wheat, and as soon as the elections are over lifting the bar to free sales. Many operators were caught short for large amounts. The Government now proposes to import wheat, but to do this must induce the Federal Government to remove the duty. The Federal Bureau estimates the total wheat yield of Australia at 25.000,C00 basheis, made up as follows : Bushels. New South Wales 13,000.009 Victoria 4.500,000 South Australia 3.000,000 West Australia 2,500.000 Queensland 1,500,000 Tasmania 500,000 Last year the Australian harvest yielded 103,000,000 bushels.

December 3. The Mill-owners’ Association advanced the prices of flour to £l3 10s, bran to £8 15s, and pollard to £9 per ton. Wheat is selling at 6s 3d to 6s 5d per bushel. The setting aside of a fixed price has brought large supplies of stored grain on to the market. PERTH, December 1. The Government Statistician estimates that 39,100 acres, or one-fourth of the wheat area sown, is a total failure. ADELAIDE, December 1. The Government has seized a further hundred thousand bags of wheat. December 2. The pre-harvest wheat yield estimate for the State is 46,664,761 bushels. December 3. The Grain and Fodder Board has agreed to release all seized wheat upon millers and wheat merchants undertaking that there will be no export without the express sanction of the board.