DROUGHT AND DAIRY PRODUCE

Evening Star, Issue 19774, 26 January 1928, Page 16

DROUGHT AND DAIRY PRODUCE

PRODUCTION FALLING [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, January 25. The long spell of dry weather is causing a good deal of anxiety among those directly associated with the dairying industry, and the almost certain prospect of a falling off in production must bo regarded witn some concern by the dominion as a whole. Until quite recently an extraordinary increase in production was a gratifying feature of the present season’s operations in the dairying industry, and there was every reason to believe that production would reach record figures. During the last few weeks, however, the hot, dry weather has adversely affected the position, and already in many parts of the dominion there is a very pronounced decline in production. Every day of dry weather now will accentuate the decline, and unless there is rain in useful measure very soon the position will be serious. The chairman of the Dairy Produce Export Board (Mr AV. Grounds) stated to-day that the position in the Auckland dairying districts was becoming really bad, owing to the prolonged dry spell, and rain was urgently needed to retrieve the situation. He said the falling off in dairy production, owing to what amounted to a real_ drought in many parts of the dominion, was already apparent, and the position would become worse rapidly if rain did not come soon to revive the pastures.