CANADIAN OATS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2194, 25 September 1907, Page 1

CANADIAN OATS.

IMPORTATIONS TO NEW ZEALAND. WILL THE COLONY CEASE TO PRODUCE GRAIN? Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 24. The statement telegraphed from Wellington that 20,000 sacks of American oats are now on the way to New Zealand was brought under the notice of several local grain merchants to-day, but they pointed out that importations of Canadian oats to the North Island had been going on for some time past. Prices for oats ■were high in New Zealand-and low in America, which made the business of importing not only possible but profitable. One merchant expressed the opinion that before long New Zealand would cease to be anything but a pastoral and ■ dairy-farming country, and the wholo of the oats required for internal consumption would have to be imported. As far as tho South Island was concerned, the business done in oats was nothing to what it used to be. Speculation had almost ceased, and a man who before would have ordered 500 sacks now asked for 50. “Oats liavo been coming very freely into tho North Island ports for some time past,” said another merchant, “but 20,000 sacks now on the way out is the largest quantity that has yet arrived in one consignment. Prices are so high in New Zealand this year that oats can profitably be imported from abroad. As a matter of fact, the 'whole of the Auckland produce trade has gone from us, and there must be from eicht to twelve cargoes of oats and fodder arriving from Australia this season. Prices, however, must go back, and we hope to right the matter next year.”