GRAVE PROSPECTS

Evening Star, Issue 25326, 7 November 1944, Page 4

GRAVE PROSPECTS

NEW SOUTH WALES FARMERS SHEEP DYING IN THOUSANDS . ■ i '. (N.Z.P.A. Special Aust. Correspondent.) SYDNEY, Nov. 6. Still .experiencing one of the worst droughts on record, practically every farming,district in Western and South- 1 era New South Wales faces grave prospects. .Sheep are dying in thousands, crops have failed, and rivers are drying up.; In spite of Government assistance,' it is believed that many fanners and graziers will never recover from their losses. Already 3,500,000 sheep have died in the State this year.

Normally about two-thirds of New South Wales wheat is produced in these southern and western areas. This year Australia's wheat production will drop from 50,000,000 to 20,000,000 bushels—a loss of £6,000,000. New South Wales hay production will fall from 700,000 tons to 100,000 tons. When hay is cut: and bagged as chaff it is worth £lO a ton. This reduced production entails another £6.000.000 loss to farmers.

-The present drought, though confined to comparatively small areas of Victoria, South Australia, and Southwestern New South Wales, is as intense as any ever experienced. The rainfall over the stricken districts during the past year has been about 4iu, compared with a yearly average of more than loin. The major problem otf the drought has been soil erosion by wind, turning. tens of thousands of acres of formerly rich farmlands into stony deserts. This has led to widespread agitation for the earliest possible introduction of giant water conservation schemes. Several rivers flow through the areas now affected, and other similar areas when irrigated have proved to be among the most fertile lands in Australia. The Mildura irrifation area of 30,000 acres was once arren, useless country, but now it produces £3,000,000 worth of dried fruits every, year. Production in the Leeton-Griffith' irrigation area of New South; Wales has risen Ifrom £IOO,OOO to nearly £3,500,000 last year—mainly from fruit and rice.

Heavy overstocking is claimed to have aggravated the drought effects in Western New South Wales. Once the district carried 15,000.000 to 20,000,000 sheep. Before the drought this year it was carrying 7,500.000. After the drought, experts say, it will not be fit to carry more than 4.000.000. Yet irrigated iand within 20 miles is among the most prosperous in Australia. One 30-acre citrus farm last year earned an ' income of £B,OOO for its owner. Irrigation projects are already high on the priority list for Australia's postwar national . works, and the < present drought has emphasised their need. For. the districts now ravaged a £30.000,000 scheme, embracing a dozen rivers, is in the contemplated programme of works to extend over 20 rears.