DROUGHT IN PROSPECT

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 95, 22 April 1922, Page 7

DROUGHT IN PROSPECT

ANXIETY IN NEW SOUTH WALES

WEATHER STILL STJMMERLIKE (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright^ (Received 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. .Summer's failure to observe the official dictum that it ends with March, and the continued indications of further possible April records are causing water officials alarnv. The unusual hot and droughty conditions tf the la6t few- weeks and the continued influx- of Easter visitors resulted in heavy depletions. Failing rain strict restrictions arc expected. As a first step the Water Board will stop all extensions until the .position improves...

The return to droughty conditions has revived the proposal for.' locking the Lnchlan River thereby freeing large areas of rich western lands from drought visitation and opening the country to a closer settlement scheme which would involve millions and would water practically the whole Lachlan Valley.— (A. and S./,. Cable.)

HEAVY MARKETING OF STOCK. SYDNEY, April 21. The effect of the dry spell throughout the country in the past few months is being shown in the stock sales. Owners are rushing cattle and sheep into (lie market. Sheep prices are well maintained owing to the keen demand for the export trade, as exporters are operating freely in view of the strong tone of the London market, which is predicted to hold. No upward movement in cattle is expected, and slackness will continue until a settlement is reached with the workers a settlement is rpached with the workers over the Federal Government's beef subsidy scheme.— (A. and N.Z.)