WHEAT SUPPLY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11446, 28 January 1918, Page 6

WHEAT SUPPLY.

THIS SEASON S CROPS. UMA>n» YIELD SHOULD SUFFICE FOR LOCAL REQUIREMENTS. [Per Press Association.] Christchurch, Jan. 42. In a statement made this evening on the wheat question, the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald, Minister for Agriculture, said “The weather conditions during the p r .st ; two months, and particularly during the last mouth, have militated somewhat against the yield that was anticipated earlier in the season, but if the yield comes up to the average of the last ton years there will probably be sufficient wheat for local rqeuiremeuts, and it is hoped that there will bo no necessity this season to import from Austral.ir,, except, perhaps, a email quantity for mixing purposes. In view of the increasing shipping difficulties, it is hoped that such a result will be achieved, as last year the strain that was put upon the intercolonial shipping resources to bring from Australia approximately one and a-half million bushels was severe. New Zoaalnd, which is eminently fitted to grow sufficient wheat to satisfy its own requirements, should not be faced with the spectre of a.-wheat famine. “Early in' February, when the Wheat Controller will be in posses® siou of the necessary statistical data, which is . to he furnished by millers ‘ showing *their output, capacity of mill, and probable requirements, an allocation® of the crop will be made accordingly to each miller, the varieties Jbeing properly proportioned. The warrants to purchase the amount so allocated will then be issued to millers, and they willbe Lexpected to take delivery of as much of their allocation as they can accommodate in their own find a suitable storage for. Brokers have been instructed to arrange as far as possible that all deliveries will bo made direct to the nills, or to the millers’ stores. If the former cannot make an immediate s le, r.nd is compelled by force of circumstances to hold his wheat, he will be given an extra halfpenny per mouth from April to September for so doing. This rate will probably be sufficient to recompense the grower if bo is compelled to put his wheat through store. “Should there he any surplus of this season’s crop after local requirements have been satisfied, the Government will, of course, purchase it right out and carry it over to next season, and it will, I may say, relieve my anxieties very greatly if the surplus is a substantial one. ” Mr MacDonald added that as far as possible the brokers would make prompt settlement with farmers, and in their terms of the contracts made would pay for all wheat delivered on the first and fourteenth day of each month.