RAIN BADLY NEEDED

Feilding Star, Volume 11, Issue 4156, 1 February 1934, Page 7

RAIN BADLY NEEDED

POVERTY BAY DISTRICT EFFECT ON PRODUCTION Settlers iu parts of the Poverty Bay district are commencing to complain about tilie effects of the drought, and indications are that, in the absence of early relief, farmers will be confronted with a serious position. In Gisborne itself there lias been no rain of any consequence since December 1. the aggregate since then being only 11*0 points of which 38 points were recorded during the present month. From the East Coast and the hinterland districts if is reported that already there is some shortage of feed, and that dairyino- production is declining rapidly, but nearer Gisborne, although the seasonal decline is apparent, it is not nearly so great as might be expected. The season to date constitutes a record, and the indications are that the output at the end of the v-car will eclipse all previous figures. The same position does not exist, however, at the Ngatiporou factory, on the East Coast, which is operated hv Maoris. Tf the drought continues it is considered that the season will l>e the first to reveal •• cheek in progress since the factory opened