DROUGHT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 8 November 1919, Page 5

DROUGHT

CONDITIONS IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

DAILY MORE SERIOUS. STOCK DYING IN THOUSANDS. WHEAT CROP LARGELY A FAILURE. (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association) SYDNEY, Nov. 7.

The drought conditions are daily growing more serious. It. is stated that three-fourths of Now South Wales is suffering. Over wide districts the drought is the worst ever experienced. The wheat crop .is largely , a failure, and is being cut for fodder. Reserve stocks, which are almost used up, are selling at prohibitive prices. Pasforalists are suffering tremendous losses. They ar e rushing stock to market’ to prevent, it dying, and are selling at the lowest prices for years. Tn. some districts owners are knocking . iambs and calves on the head so as to give the mothers a chance of I'fe.

In the far , west pastoralisls are abandoning - their holdings after removing*” such stock as is< able to trav r el. Cattle and horses are dying by thousands. Sheep which are too weak .to walk 'are shorn in the paddocks and then, their” thmat-s arc out. It is predicted that unless there is rain before Christmas the drought will spell a national calamity, amd even if rain comes soon it is .feared that much of the stock will be too weak to recover.