WHEAT GROWING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14574, 9 April 1918, Page 5

WHEAT GROWING.

POSITION OF THE FARMER. In the course of a. statement regarding wheat product ion m New Zealand the 1 Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. D. S. MacDouald) said he thought still that; it was highly-desirable to produce within' the Dominion the wheat required for the people's bread. Ho felt that it would be bad policy to become dependent on Aus-, tralia for supplies, and that it was not fair to blame. jtht> New Zealand farmer; for taking an increased price under wars conditions. > "Apart from tho present shortage of i labor and the special inducements of-: fered by high prices to allow other lines of production," said the Minister, "farmers' costs of wheat growing have greatly advanced within the past year or so. I speak subject to correction,; but here is a little comparative state-, ment of such costs, the first figure repre- ; senting the pre-war charge and Utib' second the present rate : — Ploughing, per week, 255 ; 60s. Harvesting, per hour, Is 3d ; Is 9d to; . 2s. Thrashing, por hour, 20s to 255; 405.. Receiving and delivering, per ton, 2s 6d ; 3s. Storage, per ton. 2d; 2J-d. Ploughs, net, £20 5s ,• £33 15s. . Ploughshares, do?., 15s; 30s. Harrows. £10 £s 6d ; £15 2s 6d. Drills, £56 ; £77 10s. Drays. £28 10s; £42. Extras, etc.. 50 per cent, to 100 per cent, advance. Binders, Massey-Harris, £42; £52 10s. Horse covers, each. £1; £1 17s 6d. Corn sacks, each, 9d : Is. Binder twine, per lb.. 5d ; Bd. Harvester oil, per go 1., 4s B'l : 7s Gd. Seaming twine, per lb. . 2s; 6p. i Feed oats, per bushel. Is 6d ; 4s 6d to ss. Oat sheaf chaff, ton, 60s ; 140s. Railway rates, 21 per cent, increase. Shoeing, 33 1-3 per cent, increase. Fertilisers, per ton, £4 12s 6d ; £7 12s 6d. If the wheat farmer is to bo solvent, ho must receive more for his produce- than he did befoi'e +he war m order to follow his calling and at the same tjme meet, the increased ovei'head charges. If wheat does not pay, then he is bound i to try the next best thing. "I will say this," said Mr. Mac Donald, "I am thoroughly convinced that most of the farmers are m earnest m their desire* to do- what is right. They realise the need for increased production. They feel that, as they own the land, they ought to do what is right by it. But thov cannot do impossibilities. The nublio should realise that."