COMMERCIAL Drought Effects May Last Four Years

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31319, 15 March 1967, Page 19

COMMERCIAL Drought Effects May Last Four Years

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) SYDNEY, March 14. The effects of the recent disastrous drought in New South Wales and Queensland would be felt for at least another four years, the chief wool valuer in Sydney for Dalgety and New Zealand Loan, Ltd. (Mr S. Davis) said.

The drought in western New South Wales, he said, was the worst on record. Only 16,000 bales of wool were railed from Bourke, 000 miles north-west of Sydney, in 1965-66, compared with 55,000 bales in 1963-64.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation estimated that drought in the last three years had cut sheep numbers in New South Wales and Queensland by more than 20 million. “There will be no appreciable increase in sheep num-

bers in New South Wales for at le? c 'S months,” Mr Davis said. “Next spring’s clips are already half drought-affected and there will be no marked improvement in the quality of wool until next autumn’s shorn wools are received,” he said. “At present, there is a

shortage of young Merino sheep in New South Wales and Queensland, though there are a substantial number of crossbreds available.” In Brisbane the company’s wool manager (Mr J. T. H. Michod), said next season’s wools auctioned at Brisbane would reflect the improved seasonal conditions in Queensland. Rain Needed However, there were still areas requiring more rain, he said. Lambing percentages in many Queensland districts were excellent, with a 100 per cent record on one southwestern property. Graziers, who were now restocking after the drought, were making an all-out effort to improve lambing production.