120 THE HIGH COST OF LIVING 



Just after the war broke out Australia found her- 

 self with an unusually large wheat crop on hand 

 and an insufficient supply of vessels to transport it, 

 owing to the withdrawal of steamers from that part 

 of the world. The government immediately ar- 

 ranged with the British Government that all the 

 ships carrying troops to England should carry grain 

 in their holds. No middleman was allowed to de- 

 rive any benefit from the government aid. The 

 government bought the wheat at a fixed price of 

 75 cents a bushel cash and is to pay an additional 

 sum when the sales are completed and expenses de- 

 ducted. Over 150,000,000 bushels were bought by 

 the government in these transactions.' 



In 1915 the cost of living rose so high that the 

 govenmient went into the meat, sheep, and hog 

 exporting business to England in order to eliminate 

 the middleman.- 



The state of South Australia is one of the most 

 advanced in regard to export arrangements under 

 government management. It handles the export 

 business of the state by a produce export depart- 

 ment which was established in 1893 and began 

 working the following year. It was designed pri- 

 marily to help the small farmer, who was practically 

 unable to reach the markets of the world. The 

 department receives produce at the port of ship- 



1 Elwood Mead, Metropolitan Magazine, January, 1917. 

 ^International Year Book, 1915, article on "Australia." 



