1938: Manitoba

Wheat Situation.

Wheat, as usual, dominated both politics and economics in Manitoba, during 1938. Although the early prospects for a bumper crop were not fulfilled, the 1938 crop was considerably better than the average for the past ten years and only slightly below that of the previous year. Although rust did great damage in the neighboring province of Saskatchewan, its destructiveness was reduced in Manitoba by the widespread sowing of Thatcher wheat, a comparatively new rust-resisting variety. Farmers were protected against low market prices by the Dominion Government's guarantee of 80 cents a bushel.

John Bracken, Manitoba's Premier, busied himself with several projects designed to aid the wheat situation. He was influential in bringing about an amalgamation of the United Grain Growers and the Manitoba Pool Elevators as the first step in a move to bring about a union of the wheat interests in Western Canada. Speaking at Ottawa on Nov. 28, he called for a definite national wheat policy to meet the challenge of contracting world markets. Steps toward formulating this policy were taken at a conference of representatives from the wheat-growing provinces which met at Winnipeg in mid-December on Premier Bracken's invitation. Proposals were discussed for reducing agricultural indebtedness and reviving world trade.

Finances.

As compared with its neighboring provinces, Manitoba's finances remained in satisfactory shape in 1938. The provincial treasurer, S. S. Garson, announced a surplus for the fiscal year ending April 30, 1938, of $505,189, making further advances from the Dominion Treasury unnecessary. As part of a general plan to consolidate tax collections in the province, the Premier appointed G. Cousley to the post of Commissioner of Taxation.

Mineral Output.

Mineral output in the province for the six months ending June 30, 1938, totaled $7,705,712, an increase of $1,126,034 over the corresponding period of the previous year.