THE WHEAT QUESTION

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16230, 28 March 1917, Page 9

THE WHEAT QUESTION

GOVTSaNMENT WILL- BUY 1917-18 CROP. TRAODORS FOE, PLOUGHING, •■INTE(RyrE?W;' : \VXTH''HON. [W. D. S. '. '■ MaeDonald. ..- "The Government will take overj the whole of the 1917-18 wheat crop, '. paying 5s 10d.f.0.b. for all good milling wheat." jSo said the Horn. W. J). S. MacDonald, Minister for Agriculture, in ) the course of an interview yesterday WJtli a representative df this paper. The Minister went on to say:—"Since I took over the portfolio of Agriculture, I have lost no opportunity of appealing to the farmers' patriotism, in the matter of wlheat growing, and I cannot realise how anyone who has followed up the matter of the Dominion's wheat supplies, could fail to be aware of my j efforts along tho lines. With partiou- ' lar reference to nest season's crop, I j addressed a large body of representatives of the wheat growers of the South j Island at Christchurch in January. On ] that occasion my appeal was mainly on patriotic lines, and since then my efforts to induce preparation for extended sowings, in the coming season have not lagged. At _ the present time a direct appeal is in course of transmission to every wheat-grower. This appeal asks definitely for a sowing of at , least 250,090 _ acres, and states exactly ! in each individual ease the increase in j acres required to b© sown this year to bring about the desired result when included in the general aggregate. With regard to the proposal that so much [ wheat-growing be allocated to each i district and sub-district, I would point I out that the statistical returns afford the best indication of the normal distribution, of wheat-growing in New Zealand, and my present efforts are accordingly directed towards securing a pro rata increase in production by the farmers who have hitherto been engaged till wheat-growing. The extent to which my efforts have been fruitful will be known by the end of Jane when steps will be taken to »«curo further spring sowings in suitable districts if necessary. Meantime, as a preliminary to a Spring sowing wheat campaign, my Department is collecting all necessary data as to districts, sub-districts and even individual farms, which could if necessary be made to contribute to the Dominion's resources in wheat. Apart altogether from other considerations wheat at a reasonable figure is the prime factor of national efficiency at all times, but especially so in the present critical situation, and must oonsequemifcly be given first consideration. I hope that farmers generally will give the wheatgrowing question! their eaitoest consideration, and look upon it as a national duty to produce sufficient wheat for the Dominion's requirements during_ wiar-time. The Government, recognising the many disadvantages in connection w£th wheatgrowimg that farmers have to face, more especially in regard to the labour problem, climate, and other reasons, will as far as possible use every endeavour to provide the necessary farm labour."

Continuing, the Minister said he had been very favourably impressed with the appearance of the wheat-growing lands in South Canterbury and. North. Otago; they seemed to hiin ideal for the purpose, and he had confidence that the farmers here would respond readily to the appeal made to them. Asked whether he would be addressing a meeting of farmers in South Canterbury, the Minister said that if it was so desired he would do so. He would not be able to speak here this j week, but lie bould, if they . wished, come down to South Canterbury from Christchurch next week for such a purpose. He wanted it widely understood that the Government would give every encouragement to wheat growers, and they , had definitely decided to pur--1 chase the whole of the 1917-18 wheat paying 5s lOd f o.b. for all good milling wheat. It had been reore- , sented to him that some small farmers, as a result of two consecutive years jof drought, would be unable to get seed wheat to sow this year. If there were any such farmers, the Government _ would find the seed for them, and it could be paid for or returned after next harvest.

Questioned as to whether the Government would do anything in the matter of supplying tractors to help farmers with, the cultivation of their land; the Minister said yes. Farmers' committees would be set up in connection with, -the Efficiency Board, and if four or five farmers represented to ches'e committees that they wanted <o r/otin 50, 60, or. 100 s acres of wheat, as the case might be, the Agricultural Department would be "prepared to allow them to procure a tractor which had the approval of the Department's experts. The farmers could either hire it or purchase it. If the latter, they would be given plenty of time to pay for the'machine. He was given to understand that an expert with a tractor could plough nearly as much as three men with teams in a day. But will 1 they work on down country? asked the reporter. v The Minister replied that they would ; they were so working in the North Island now. These tractors should go a long way towards solving the problem of how to get,in the greatest possible area of wheat in the shortest possible time. The Department had a tractor ploughing 1500 acres at Te Kawhatu (between Auckland and I'Vanktou Junction), and it was doing good work. It was ploughing rolling country as well as flat land. He was also putting in a fair area on one of the Government development iain>s in Hawke's hundred acres. At this farm they were having a test with different tractors working .s.de Ly side, as they wanted to get the l-cifc tractor on the market.

At the- Weraroa development farm they had been conducting oxpcjniiiL'uts in spring wheat sowing for the past two years. la 1915-16 they secured a. return of 50 bushels to the acre from 50 acres, and last season they dad H bushels to the acre from- the same area. It was, of course, veiy r.ch land. But he only advised spr'nsj sowing in suitable districts.

The Minister here remarked parenthetically that there_ eeja-wi to be an impression that he did rob understand farming, but he had been on a farm all his life, and had been, farming in a fairly big way in the Gisborne district for the past 27 years, so that he ought to know a little about it.

Continuing, the Minister said he believed that fanners realised that the present was no time for quibbling over £s. d. It was a time when it was every man's duty to do what he could to help to win the war. In. normal times one could safely leave the Towing of wheat to the ordinary course of business, but these were extraordinary times, and it was not necessary for him to point out the condition they were in, in- regard to transports. They could see the position from the dail'v destruction of shipping, and from tbfs all would recognise how essential it was that this Dominion should "reduce its own food requirements. Ancr with a determined effort he believed that the farmers Would find that they could do it.

In conclusion, Mr Mae'Donald said: "I have endeavoured to explain the situation; now I hope that the farmers will think the matter out for themselves, and .net. The country here is ideal for wheat arowiiisr—beautiful country, and in spite of the fact

that we are told that nothing is being done, I saw numbers of teams wording on my way from Timaru to Oamaru, and after this rain I hope that we will see still more teams in the fields. There can be no doubt aoout tno possibilities of such a splendid . district. "I rather regret that I was not able to meet more farmers in Timaru on Saturday last, and if I had time this week 1 would be glad to return here and address 3. public meeting, but as I said before I will do that nest week if the farmers desire ma to do so. I addressed a meeting of between 200 and 300 farmers at Oamaru and I think that we arrived"' at a better understanding of each other. The farmers there assured me that they were prepared to do their best, and I am sure that the same applies to South Canterbury. I want to add that right from Christchurch to Oamaru the farmers' meetings were satisfactory, and I confidently look to good results, so far as wheat-growing is concerned, for the coming season." The Minister left by the first express vesterday for C&ristehureh.