WHEAT SHORTAGE IN N.Z.

Southland Times, Issue 25546, 14 December 1944, Page 4

WHEAT SHORTAGE IN N.Z.

MR HOLLAND APPEALS FOR BIG ACREAGE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, December 13. “I think all farmers realize that New Zealand at present is facing an acute shortage of wheat, both for human consumption and stock feed,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, this evening. “This unfortunate state of affairs has come about through a variety of factors, the main one precipitating the crisis being the disastrous drought which Australia is experiencing. “It is the effects of this Australian drought upon New Zealand’s wheat supply which I would like to talk about. The drought has affected New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, three major Australian wheat-growing areas, and I understand that Australia’s wheat crop this year is likley to be only one-third of normal and the other grain crops have been affected just as disastrously. Usually New Zealand imports several million bushels of wheat annually from Australia to supplement home-grown crops. New Zealand also imports quantities of barley, barley meal and maize, which help to feed the country’s pig and poultry industries. FEEDING OF STOCK “But now, as a direct result of the drought, Australia has told us that she cannot supply us with any stock feed this season. This will mean that we will have to draw largely upon our own supplies of wheat for stock-feeding purposes. For this coming season anyway, it is up to every farmer to strive to make this country self-sufficient in wheat. Entire self-sufficiency to cover a normal year’s wheat requirements would call for not less than 3,500,000 acres to be sown. This may be an impossible acreage under present conditions, but the aim should be at least 300,000 acres. This acreage is within the present capabilities of the country. I say to every wheatgrower and farmer in the country: Sow wheat and still more wheat this coming season.”