WHEAT AND FLOUR.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18350, 22 August 1929, Page 5

WHEAT AND FLOUR.

DOMINION’S OUTPUT AND REQUIREMENTS. By Telegraph —Press Association. WELLINGTON, August 21. Before the Wheat Commission, Mr J. W. Collins, Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce, gave some interesting figures. After describing various stages through which the industry had passed, Mr Collins stated that the country’s domestic requirements of wheat might be stated to be as follows:—For milling 6,5000,000 bushels; for fowl feed and other purposes. 2.000.000 bushels; for seed, 500,000 bushels; total 9,000,000 bushels. During the year 1927-28, the total yield oil 260,987 acres had been 9,541,444 bushels or 35.56 bushels per acre. Mr Collins submitted a number of tables dealing with various aspects of the wheat industry. In 1928, New Zealand exported 692 bushels of wheat and imported 761,055 bushels. The quantity of flour imported during 1928 was 9500 tons, against 14324 tons in 1927, and 26891 tons in 1926. The value of wheat, flour, bran and pollard imported during the past five years was as follows; —Wheat, £2,899,760; flour, £901.146, bran, £57,183; pollard £116,136: total £3,974,225. Dealing with the flour-milling industry, Mr Collins said that there were 49 flour mills operating in New Zealand (40 in the South Island and 9 in the Noith Island). The average yearly output was approximately 135,000 tons of flour, 19,700 tons of bran, and 31,460 tons of pollard; and the average yearly requirements of wheat for milling purposes were from 61 million to 7 million bushels. The value of land, buildings, plant and machinery of the flour-milling industry in the Dominion was £830,178. The number of persons employed was 697, and wages paid during 1928 totalled £175, 950. The value of products was £2,949.921, and the value added in course of manufacture £607,995.