BRITAIN’S WHEAT ACREAGE

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14699, 2 September 1915, Page 3

BRITAIN’S WHEAT ACREAGE

AN APPEAL TO FARMERS. Press Association.---Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, September 1. The interim report of the Millers’ Committee recommended guaranteeing- lar-, meys a- minimum of 4as. for wheat, but ■this has since been negatived. The committee found that the only method of substantially increasing the British 1916harvest was the cultivation of some of the poorer grass land without diminishing the.,output of, meat and, milk, and the; capacity to maintain live stock. -..1t opined that the guarantee would-resultTin,the . increase of the wheat ; acreage from the present; two millions to. three millions,-' giving six weeks’ additional supply to; the whole ,of . the. United Kingdom. The; -guarantee, would involve higher. Wages, fOh ’ farm' labour and greater employment;: bviF no: sucli. setious labour shortage as r would, render the proposal impracticable. It isjshggested by; the Government that; farmers organise supplies of manure and; labour-saving. machinery. It is believed that many farmers will respond to the, appeal., in the national interest, even at a, sacrifice, of the certainty of present profits- Tbtf ■ committee refrained- from, •recommending, a fixed. maximum . price at which the. Government might, buy, be-, 1 cause it. nJight dislocate and chepk importation.