The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2218, 23 October 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23.

THREE BUSHELS TO'THE ACRE

Tbo news published in yesterday’s issue concerning the prospects of the New South Wales wheat crop makes very gloomy reading. According to the cablegrapliist it is estimated that unless rain falls within the next few weeks the average yield will not be higher than 3 bushels to the acre. In other words, it will he worth cutting ami many a farmer w;.ill be hopelessly ruined. Not only that, but the .nitlook for the pastoralist is not out whit more encouraging, and the opinion is forcing itself upon us that our friends in the Commomvea’.iii are about- to experience another sample of that curse o-f the great Australian continent —the drought. In the present instance the troubles of our neighbors appear likely to be reflected upon us with much greater force than is usually the case. It is questionable whether there i.s enough wheat in the Dominion io supply our requirements until next season’s crop becomes available. The Government statistics, carefully compiled, state tli.it we have more thin sufficient; but figures cannot always be relied upon and in the present instance we have the hard fact that even 5s a bushel lias not succeeded in bringing any substantial quantity on to the market. The only conclusion we can come to therefore, is that there is very little wheat in the country. It is probable that, encouraged by the high prices, Southern farmers have sown more wheat this year than for some time past, and this season’s harvestshould be larger than usual ,but the spring has not been a forward one and there is no-t likely to be much new wheat offering before the end of February and in the meantime we will probably continue, as in the ■past, to be at the mercy of the Australian market. -If this means anything at all it means that with such dismal prospects as are indicated by three bushels an acre, rates will go higher than ever in Sydney and the price of local flour will increase correspondingly. Of course, these exceptional values provide amide reasons, as we polluted out recently, for -the Government granting some measure of relief to our own consumers liv removing the 'duty on imported Hour, if only as a temporary expedient. In the meantime we have something more than a neighborly feeling to animate us in wishing that the much needed raiii may fall in the Commonwealth shortly and save the crops and pastures.