THE FARM.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13598, 7 October 1914, Page 8

THE FARM.

THE WHEAT PROBLEM.

"Agricola" writes in the "Farmers' Advocate" :—The position of wheat at the present time is no less a problem for the Government than for the farmer. There can be but little doubt that there is not sufficient wheat in the country to last us till th& next harvest is put on the market. It is true that the chairman of the Food Commission has stated that there is plenty of wheat in sight and that Mr. Virtue, of the Northern Roller Mills, and others, are of opinion that there is sufficient wheat about. But farmers who have grown wheat for years, and who watch the position very carefully, are convinced that there will be a shortage. They base their belief on the fact that the carry-over from last season must have been a small one. The yield at the Government's estimate of 32 bushels on 170,000 acres, would not be sufficient to keep us in flour, seed, and chick-feed. But the average yield could not have been 32 bushels. It was not even 30 bushels. In many districts where the crops looked as if they would give 35 or 40 bushels, the actual result is not more than 25 bushels. It is felt that the Government should have found out the position sis weeks ago. It must be remembered that we have still six months to go before the next harvest, or any quantity of it, will be on the market, and we use something like half a million bushels a week. Some anxiety is felt by grain growers to learn what the outcome of the Food Commission will be. If the price of grain is fixed by law, it will have to be at between five and six shillings a bushel before farmers will sell, because

they believe that to bo the market value. There are not many farmers who are holding, but those who are in that fortunate position are not at all charmed with the idea of State fixed, prices. They say, a::d with a .good deal of truth, that if Lhe Government fixes the price at loss than the market value, they should compensate the farmers whg sold in the autumn at bolv.,- the cost of production; <H^ tllov iui'liiCT.'r.cre argue that if iiio State is Wing to prevent.them from reaping the l>":iefit of their enterprise iv growing and in holding wheat till now, the Sir,to should do something for those farmers who have grown potatoes *^ considerably less than a price. To-day potatoes, ' m Canterbury are worth only about 35s a tonl Why singk out wheat for special treatment? II has not yet reached anything like famine prices, and after all a rise of twopence a loaf should not be a very disastrous affair. Many a family spends several times the additional sum in -their bread bill on picture shows, and potatoes are-cheap. j