DROUGHT ENDS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30619, 9 December 1964, Page 21

DROUGHT ENDS

Rain After 10 Years (N.Z. Press Assn.— Copyright) DARWIN, Dec. 7. Recent rains have brought new life to thousands of square miles of droughtstricken country south of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory. The area, most of which is desert, had not had rain in 10 years, but is now wearing a green coat. Some properties, which have not had grass for five years and longer, are carrying good feed. The Acting-Director of Animal Industry, Mr B. Hart, said today that in some places cattle, which were starving a few months ago, were already fat.

“The country has responded marvellously,” he said. The worst drought area south and south-west of Alice Springs, has revived splendidly. Pastoralists generally are waiting for more rain to consolidate the position before restocking. The rains of up to two inches have benefited an area from the South Australian border as far north as Tennant creek and west to the Western Australian border. But east of Alice Springs the position is still not good, and in spite of the rain the district is having frequent dust storms.