New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-03
Making Sure Of Supply

the government Of Great Britain has
taken steps in other directions to in
sure an adequate supply of grain from
the 1917 harvest. and to obtain as much
of it as possible within the empire.
The whole available surplus crop OF
Australia. for both the past and the
current year, has already been pur-
chased. Measures have also been taken
to control he surplus crops of India
and Egypt In addition, the govern
mcnt has called for the total product
of the British farmer, and has fixed a
price Of 81 shillings per quarter which
is equivalent to about S1.82 bushel.
The Canadian wheat crop. however
is factor of vital Importance. Great
Britain has always absorbed by far the
larger part OF Canada's surplus yield
Out Of total Of 157.745.469 bushels
exported from Canada during the fiscal
year ending March 81. 1916. no less
than 1lO41I.4ll bushels went TO the
British Isles. For the several years
Immediately preceding. the proportion
going to Great Britain was even larger.
Canada has counted on the British mar
ket for It's grain and Britain has
counted on Canada for an important;
part Of its supply. When Sir George
Foster was in England last December
he discussed with the Wheat Commits
sion. which is charged with the pur-
chase of wheat for the necessities OIL
Great Britain, France and Italy, the
proposal that the British government
should purchase the available wheat
crop of Canada for 1917.
Shortage of Tonnage a Factor
Not only is the amount OF Canada 8
exportablc wheat of great Importance
but the shortage of ocean tonnage gives
this country's grain crop TREMENDOUS
additional attractiveness to the British
government. Indeed, it is counted as
little short of imperative that the sur
plus Canadian supply should be at the
sole disposal of the imperial authori-
tics for in the words of Sir George
Foster. "under certain conditions II
MIGHT mean the salvation of the British
people and the decisive factor IN the
decision Of the war. One vessel on the
North Atlantic route is nearly equal IN
carrying capacity to three on the ma
ian and Australian routes"
Even this year the remainder OF the
1915 harvest. OF which many million
bushels of wheat are still in Canadian
elevators or in the hands of the grain
growers themselves. may be one OF the
most effective factors in relieving the
food situation in Great Britain during
the next six months. A conference on
this subject has just been held between
tha Canadian ministers now in London
and the imperial authorities. and 1t IS
renorted that the Dominion government
may take any step deemed necessary
in the interests Of the empire
Basis for Fixing Price
The British government desired not
only to be certain Of securing the cana
dian crop of 1917, but II wanted TO DC
so at A price which would not be eXces'
siye and would allow only a reasonable
margin over the cost Of production
The price having been fixed at SIS a
Lushel for grain grown by the British
farmer. it was proposed to pay the same
nrice for the Canadian harvest, less de-
auctions for freight and other costs OF
handling between Fort William and
England. The Fort William equivalent
of the fixed British price for domestic
grown wheat is about Sl.30 oushel
Sir George Foster called a number o,
representatives Of the grain growers
organizations 10 meet nm IN OTTAWA
where he placed The proposition before
,herl and then sent them back to see
what their several associations thought
of The offer. As a result, representa-
tive conference Of organized farmers
was held NJ Regina, where the question
was debated behind closed doors. Al
Though the meeting was not unanl nous,