WHEAT SHORTAGE FEARED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 86, 12 April 1945, Page 3

WHEAT SHORTAGE FEARED

FARMERS URGED TO SOW MORE GRAIN “The only way of overcoming this is by making a personal appeal to farmers—because of. the drought in Australia we are faced with a worldwide shortage of milling wheat that is required not only in New Zealand, but throughout the Empire,” said the ■chairman of the Wanganui District Council of Primary Production, Mr. W. S. Glenn (Kakatahi) at the monthly meeting yesterday. “It behoves us to put out a drive for wheat,” declared Mr. A. S. Coleman (Marton), introducing the subject. “I believe ther? are thousands of acres between the Wangaehu River and Rangitikei which could be planted if farmers only did their job, but we don't want ary compulsion ” The chairman: Have you a practical suggestion? It seems that we have reached the stage when compulsion will be necessary. I don’t know how von are going to appeal to the better nature of people. A voice: Let them go hungry for a year, then they will grow wheat. The chairman: It is difficult to make neonle realise that, their responsibility in time of war is different frera that during peace. After it had been stated that the compulsory growing of wheat had been introduced in England, the council decided, on the suggestion of Mr. G. T/. Marshall (Turakina), that each district committee meet to discuss the position and then canvass its own area with a view to inducing farmers with land available to grow wheat. “We must have personal contact made of farmers in the district to see if we can get more wheat and bajlpy,” said the chairman.