OUR DAILY BREAD

Waikato Times, Volume 91, Issue 14167, 18 September 1919, Page 9

OUR DAILY BREAD

SHOULD WE GROW WHEAT? The personal explanation ■ given by the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament to correct a wrong impression in the mind of the Prime Minister in regard to the capabilities of Canterbury and Otago soils to produce wheat in sufficient quantity for the need: of. this country calls to mind a certain passage in the report of the Commission on Industries lately laid on the table of the House that will bear reference to. It is stated that the Commission took evi- ■ dencc in the wheat-growing districts of the Dominion, and reported that there was necessity for “guaranteeing a reasonably remunerative return to the growers if the supply is lo be maintained in sufficient volume to meet the requirements of our own people.” The report also contains this further statement: “There should be no difference of opinion as to‘ the wisdom of New Zealand growing sufficient wheat for its own requirements or of the folly of depending upon importation from other countries with all the uncertainties of shipping, droughts, disputes, quarantine embargoes, etc.” At first glance'the statements and recommendations contained in that report- appear reasonable enough, but it is a great pity that finality in argument should be reached by such means and that the subject was not considered worthy of long and serious debate . in Parliament, as it is the one most vital to any country. The legislator who has evidently a farther vision than those who framed the report and also those who so readily accepted its statements as conclusive Is Sir Joseph Ward, whose remarks were construed as a reflection upon the Southern provinces already named. Knowing these intimately, Sir Joseph Ward would not be guilty of belittling their capacity for production. There is something more at issue. As stated by him, we require ’every year 7,000,000 bushels of wheat to satisfy "the needs of this Dominion, 'yet of this quantity, with a State guarantee of 6s 6d per bushel, New Zealand growers produced during last year’s prolific season little more than the half of what we require, or in round numbers, 4,000,000 bushels. The

•nmazing fact is that with this, guarantee, in a free market, the production of wheat is actually decreasing. Tb® re can he but one explanation of this, farmers are finding production along other lines more remunerative, and it is a Question for Jhe country to consider whether it is more profitable Jo go on subsidising the half-hearted efforts to supply 6tii ? fleedS , or whether we shall not do bettet b„ establishing agencies for ihe timely purchase of wheat in countries that produce it more cheaply than it can be grown in New Zealand. We are not called upon to decide New Zealand s capacity for wheat production, but the ■ fact that the area suitable for the purpose is somewhat circumscribed and practically contained in uanterhury and part of Otago cannot be overlooked. There is, oi course, a sentimental idea associated with the home-growing of wheat, but from the economic point ol view we must determine what we can produce to the best profit, and specialise in that. It is only necessary to mention the dairy industry:to show what extraordinary wealth waits upon specialisation and to make the processes of subsidising a. languishing industry appear perilous and abortive. During the progress of the war neither reasonable profit nor patriotism could impel wheat-growers to speed up production. There is behind all commerce a calculated objective of maximum profit, and rightly so, for the nation that relaxes in this rple strikes at the very base of its commercialism. We cannot expect a 1 class to sacrifice Itself commercially to a sentiment, and now that larger profits are reaped from other industries, it will pay this country and people to rest from the labour of wheat-growing and buy in the open markms of the world. There is this to be borne in mind: wheat is not perishable, but improves on transit and in store, and becomes more suitable for milling.' We do not advocate tire importation of flour so' much ,as the importation of wheat, the milling of which

yields the necessary sharps and bran. The argument that this country should in this respect be self-support-ing is not a sound argument from a commercial point of view. There is a general cry from our political taxgatherers for increased production, but the wealth of this country is not to be increased by the subsidised growing of wheat, when wheat can be imported cheaper than it can be produced. This is not a country that can be starved out. Should it be found profitable to relinquish wheat-growing now it can be resumed at any time necessity arises, and on lands that, through the period of rest, have become capable of producing more generously. There appears to be little disorganisation of shipping except on Australasian coasts. The big liners and freighters of the over-seas come, and go to time-table, though it must be admitted not Brittania, but the fireman rules our waves. Even in view of this it is inconceivable that maritime or shore workers would do anything to impede the introduction of wheat, if the State guaranteed a loaf at a fixed and reasonable price. By a regulated system of importation, manufacture and distribution under a Board of Food control, our daily bread would be made certain and sift*e. Let other necessaries rise in price if they must, the necessary loaf should be made available to all. It is a State crime that any deserving one should go hungry. A virile and democratic Government should see to it that the tea, sugar and

breacl of the worker is not taxed am raised to prices outrageously disproportionate to labour’s remunerations This is not a Utopian scheme, noither is it socialistic, but it is surely democratic The large things pertaining to socia economics are passed over in the House with almost contemptuous reference The Cabinet of Farmers (most success, ful as farmers of constituencies) mighl fasily have earned the gratitude of tlu poor and conciliated the worker bj providing for a cheap loaf that would not vary in value according to the variable purchasing power of gold, am finally, these same farmers should be aware that wheat is a wide-rooting cereal which exhausts the soil that does not receive its recompense in liberal allowances of artificial manures. It may prove a sound policy to allow other countries of larger areas of rich and virgin lands to supply us from year to year with our daily bread, while our own fields are producing to.better purpose.