WHEAT QUESTIOM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14284, 28 April 1917, Page 5

WHEAT QUESTIOM.

INDICATIONS OF AREAS' TO B» , SOWN. ' ' The .W D. 5... MacsHonald, Minister: of i Agriculture,; iriteryiewed'' py a repV resentetive ;of The Press -regarding the resinlts of lus effort to: jncruce farmers to -grow- wheat to oneet Hive, aniticipated shortage. Mr. Mac Donald, in 'reply toa question, said that he had no- dennitft'] information yeib 'as to the total acrevj age .that was to be sown m jwheat^.- but judging .from the applications received foil seed wheat the indications were very , promising itftiat "■ '« ..'tTne'-' acreage , required— f about y2sQ,ooo'v acres -r- Avould : be- sft"wn.;J He h-'fl been, informed: by. mercliahta that -" farmers m sending their wheatiadj stated ,. thit they could 'npt- sendyiri. any more, as- • the Government wainted more 'wheat *ovra, and they had to keop a oertain". "quantity for; seed' purposes. ' Owing to th# dry season, the Minist9i* did, not; think -thai very much wheat had been sown yet, though^theret-had.tbeena. considerable amount of aUturim sowing m both the North: and' South' Islands. He . ho'pedto liave a ceinsiis taken about the end' of- June, to ascertain; itlie extant of the autumn Tsowing iand,; m the event of- the acreage: nbtr ( beihg sufficient, -to- make a '.tron'g appeal for spring .- sowing.- In some districts , the farmers had promised] toj increase- their area's: under wheat by f 20. pei* cent; He tliought tha:t- the farm- {' : ej*9 ; , realised^ the position-, •'and 'intended, 1 as far aa' possible to-' assist the Govern-! ment by putting m as much- wheat as> | pof^ible. Asked A'Cgarding the price toj be fixed foi* dressed sesd ivheat, Mr I MacDonald'Vsaid Uhftt .-he was' not m imposition to give any* information until he t had met , the Board- of Trade m Wellington.