PURCHASE OF AUSTRALIAN WHEAT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11614, 13 August 1918, Page 5

PURCHASE OF AUSTRALIAN WHEAT.

———Wf»m«nw DOMINION’S WHEAT PRODUCTION. Per Press Association. Auckndnd, August 12. The Hon. MacDonald announces that a further 2,000,000 bushels of wheat have .been purchased in Australia on the same terms, namely , 6s 7,Ud per bushel as those upon which 2,000,000 bushels were purchased last* month. The New Zealand Government provides the ships for the transport. The wheat is being delivered f. o.b. in Australia. One shipment is already on the way and should arrive in Auckland in » few days. Further freights have been arranged at intervals, without interfering “with the intercolonial cari'3'iug sevice. As to the wheat production of the Dominion, the Minister says winter sowing has been far less than Inst year and a smaller spring sowing is also expected. Farmers bad been unfortunate for the past three j*ears in getting low yields, but if the average during the coming season was 28 or 30 ludiels an acre, this, with the addition of a million bushels from Australia half-yearly, would assure a supply of wheat for the Dominion’s requirements, which were 500,000 bushels monthly for hour purposes, and 100,000 bushels for other uses. In a few days the minimum price of 6s 4d, with a free market, will be gazetted as the amount fixed for.the coming season’s wheat. So far as the interpretation of “free imarktt” stands, the Hon MacDoual says the Government has no idea of prejudicing a reasonable market price over and above 6s -Id, the Government /will be prepared to pay farmers. THE DEAL DENIED. (Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.) Melbourne, August 12. Senator Russell states that the reported sale of 2,000,000 bushels of wheat to New Zealand has not yet taken place.