Farmers’ Losses in Otago

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 64, 17 March 1938, Page 6

Farmers’ Losses in Otago

ASSISTANCE SOUGHT Per Press Association. DUNEDIN. Last Night. So serious is the drought in Central Otago that the Government is to be asked to remove stock free of charge to Canterbury pastures, and the Minister of Agriculture is to ce invited to make an immediate inspection of the c<*ur.try that was described at a meeting of the provincial council of the Farmers’ Union as not providing feed enough to keep rabbits. “Farmers are being forced to sell their stock, and many of them have only a quarter of their sheep left,” said Mr. Stoekdill. ‘ ‘ There will be no winter feed and no hope of keeping winter stocks up in the Roxburgh district. There are thousands of acres that will not maintain rabbits. Trains are leaving with.sheep that have to be soid almost free. In the past the Goya.nment has come to the assistance of farmers in flood and drought areas. Conditions in Central Otago are serious, as there has been no rain for months.”