N.Z. SHOULD GROW ITS OWN WHEAT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17905, 22 July 1926, Page 10

N.Z. SHOULD GROW ITS OWN WHEAT.

SIR J. LUKE ADVOCATES GREATER PRODUCTION. (Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, July 21. Commenting on an answer to a question regarding New Zealand wheat production, Sir John Luke stated today that an agricultural and pastoral country like New Zealand should produce sufficient grain for its own requirements. Not many* years ago the people of Australia had to import wheat becatise of the failure of their own harvest. The average bushels per acre yielded in New Zealand were , about 100 per cent more than in any other country. lie did not say that was the determining factor, but he pinned his question down to the responsibility of the Government for seeing that sufficient wheat was produced in the country to feed the people. Sir Joseph Ward said it would be a gbod thing if we could produce the whole of our wheat requirements in the Dominion. If the farmer could grow something else more profitably he could not be compelled to grow wheat unless he was paid a subsidy which was guaranteed for a period of years. There was no incentive for him to grow wheat unless he was enabled to" get the best results from it. Sir Joseph said he wished members to realise what the difficulties of the farmer were as well as of the Government. Twenty years ago the same position occurred. If the duty on imported wheat was increased to such an extent as to give the wheat grower a prospective chance the price of bread would increase and people would object. The Hon W. Nosworthy (PostmasterGeneral) said that the control exercised in past years had been a temporary measure devised to induce the farmer to grow sufficient wheat to meet the country's requirements. Had' it not been for a bad sowing season there would have been sufficient wheat this year for the needs of the ebuntry. lie thought that if conditions were good this year there would be plenty of wheat next year. It was maintained by his colleague, the Minister of Agriculture, and he thought rightly so, that the present duty on wheat and flour would be enough to guarantee the requirements of this country being met lie asked that the conditions the Government had imposed should be retained, believing that they would make it profitable for farmers to grow wheat at even less price than what was offered last year. With fair sea-

sons and fair protection and good labour conditions he believed that it would be possible to grow wheat profitably at 5s 6d a bushel. It would not be wise for New Zealand to depend on Australia or any other country for the Dominion’s foodstuffs, be-

cause it had been his experience that Australia might have asked a price up to £3O per ton for flour at a time when Australian flour was being de-

clined by the Kaffirs in South Africa, they refusing to eat it. lie asked that the Government’s policy lie given a fair trial, believing that it would be responsible for sufficient wheat, and more, for the Dominion’s requirements.