DROUGHT SITUATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 220, 13 August 1930, Page 7

DROUGHT SITUATION

WORSE IN UNITED STATES. WATER RESTRICTIONS. MANY FACING STARVATION. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) WASHINGTON, Aug. 12. President Hoover has been advised that unemployment, disease, and, in some cases, actual starvation, are complicating the situation due to the drought, which is becoming progressively worse, despite a few scattered storms.

Yesterday the New York and New Jersey area received a storm, but instead of rain there was destructive hail. Other areas have been badly .damaged by unusual thunderstorms, in which there was no rain, but injurious lightning, which set fire to buildings and killed live stock. Emergency water restrictions have been ordered in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The live stock in these States are being fed on winter rations of hay and bran. Tendollar spring lambs are being sacrificed for fifty cents each. Canneries have closed down oxving to a shortage of corn. Several towns have asked their citizens to send their laundry elsewhei’e so as to conserve the water. Herds of cattle congest the highways in Virginia as the farmers move them about in search of water. The ruination of crops has affected farm families not only from the standpoint of income, but also by cutting down their own food supplies. Many face actual starvation, because even usual table vegetables aro burned up and cattle have been lost or are unmarketable. In Kentucky the corn is a total loss and the tobacco crop has been badly damaged. The situation in Louisiana is severe. The cotton crop is two-thirds ruined; the hay and corn have been completely lost. Sugarcane will be delayed by six weeks. Alabama reports that the cotton crop is damaged. Typhoid is bad and infantile paralysis is spreading. Representatives of the suffering areas called on President Hoover, who received their reports and promised all possible aid. One report stated: “Suffering among tenant farmers is beginning, and will increase rapidly.” NEW ZEALAND BUTTER, POSSIBLE OPENING IN UNITED STATES. (By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.) AUCKLAND, Aug. 13. Owing to the severe drought in the United States, it is possible that there may be a fresh opening for New Zealand butter in North America within the next few weeks. If so, full or partial use will be made of the space that the Dairy Board has tentatively reserved for 20,000 boxes on the motor ship Limerick, which is due at Auckland on Saturday to load for Halifax and London. The suggestion is that the butter shall be shipped under an optional bill of lading, so that it can be diveited to London, if necessary.