AFTER THE DROUGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 78, 2 April 1928, Page 17

AFTER THE DROUGHT.

A WONDERFUL RECOVERY. rain urgently needed now FARMERS SUFFER SEVERELY. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, Saturday. On his return from a tour of the North Island, Mr. Dynes Fulton, chairman of the directors of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, had some interesting comments to make on the effects of the climatic conditions on the districts through which he passed. The Lower Waikato, from Mercer to Auckland, was easily the most stricken area he had seen during the drought, he said, but since the rain at the end of February and early in March much of that country had become quite a picture. More good rain was urgently needed, however. From Mercer right through the Waikato the country was looking exceedingly well, almost equal to spring time, and indications were there would be a good late autumn. The increase from many herds had already been quite phenomenal. On the main road south through the King Country, pastures were looking exceedingly well until Urenui was reached. From there through Waitara. Bell Block, and indeed the whole of Northern Taranaki, the country was suffering from a long dry spell. From Ingle wood right through South Taranaki it was looking exceptionally well, but from Palmerelon to Wellington the land was very dry, and particularly about Levin, where the land is of excellent quality. "While I still think the dry spell will have a compensating result," said Mr. Fulton, "the fa-ct nevertheless remains, it hit dairy farmers very severely. The lose sustained this season through drought has put many who were jusf, struggling over the skyline back a great deal." *