DROUGHT TOLL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25053, 17 November 1944, Page 6

DROUGHT TOLL

DUST STORMS RAGE

NO SIGN OF RAIN

AUSTRALIAN DISASTER RUIN FACES FARMERS By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright s (Special Australian Correspondent) (Reed. 7.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 1G While the drought is driving many farmers from their holdings, dust storms are raging again throughout the stricken south-western districts of New South Wales. Latest reports say that conditions have become so grim that even rabbits and grasshoppers are fleeing from the desolated areas where man and beast are attempting to remain. In the Western Riverina a mass exodus of farmers lins begun. Some farmer's have shorn their starving sheop and then cut their throats. Water is being carried by rail for 150 miles to keep the stock in somo districts alive. Gamble on Lives ol Sheep „ In these areas farmers, faced with certain ruin if they sell their stock «t the ruling prices, are gambling the lives of their sheep against the possibility of an early rainfall. The latest weather forecast gives little hope of this. The divisional meteorologist, Mr D. J. Mares, said today that the present hoat wave with its accompanying dust storms Was in certain respects even worse than that experienced earlier in the week. The pastoral areas in the far westwere being swept clean of all remaining topsoil, with dust clouds rising thousands of feet. In Sydney today smoke from a new crop of bush fires covered the city, adding to the sultriness. Fires in the Blue Mountains are the worst since 1938. Miles of fencing havo been destroyed, together with thousands of acres of grass and trees. , . Dr H. J. Hines, chief of the Division of Economics and Marketing, said today: "Agriculture in New South Wales is now completely dominated by the extending drought. All districts are suffering, even the coastal areas which a month ago looked like having a good season. ~ "The effects will bo felt soonest and ■most strongly with the cereal crops. Livestock industries will be faced with serious feed shortages, which _ will affect meat, egg and milk production." £3,000,000 Grant to Growers The drought was described _by the Minister for Commerce and Agriculture, Mr W. J. Scully, in the House of Representatives, as ''a national disaster ranking with those of 1902 and 1914," says a Canberra message. The Minister introduced a bill to authorise the payment of the Commonwealth's half share of the grant of £3,000,000 to growers of cereal crops who have suffered hardship. Mr Scully told the House that the effects of the drought w° u ld be felt throughout 1945. Australia's food production was suffering and would suffer next year to an extent which could not now W foretold. This was not just a poor season affecting a limited area, but a disaster hitting three States—New Soupr Wales," Victoria and South Australia. Over large areas of these States many crops .had failed completely, and the, returns from the remainder could not be estimated accurately until they were gathered. - The debate was adjourned.

STATE AND THE BANKS FEARS IN AUSTRALIA CANBERRA, Nov. 16 ''Drastic legislation" against the Commonwealth Bank Board was pre'dicted here by the Federal Opposition •Leader, Mr Menzies. He gave a warning against Government proposals to abolisn the board or reduce it to an advisory body. By gaining control of the people's ißioney, said Mr Menzies, the Government would obtain a power to regiment and control the people's lives which -Would far exceed the powers refused at the referendum last August. At the annual meeting of the Bank of Adelaide the chairman, Sir Howard Lloyd, said that probably no industry ■was so hedged about with wartime controls and restrictions as banking. It ■would appear that bank shareholders "had been singled out for discriminative iireatment. There was in Australia a certain political section, which, if it could, •"Would secure control of the banking system and, through it, of the savings of the people, in order to further its ".scheme for socialisation and nationalisation of the whole economy. History disclosed that political control of the banking system would end in disaster. GREEK MUTINEERS RELEASE FROM PRISON '!< Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 15 • Greek soldiers who after taking part - .in the mutiny in Egypt have been kept in concentration camps, addressed to the Greek Cabinet a memorandum expressing their desire to take part in the fight against the common enemy, re--ports an Athens correspondent quoted • .'by the British official wireless. The -Prime Minister, M. Papandreou, in a statement, says: "All those arrested "last April in the Middle East have been^ released and the affair is closed. They* are free Greek citizens and may return to Greece." ~ 25 YEARS IN COMMONS ft LADY ASTOR HONOURED ■J' LONDON, Nov. 1(5 Lady Astor, the first woman member of the British Parliament, yesterday • Celebrated the 25th anniversary of her election to Parliament. All political - parties in her constituency of Plymouth sent 25 red roses for her to the House •of Commons and Lady Astor received congratulations from members of all parties in the House, :: WAR BONUS RESTORED AUSTRALIAN SEAMEN '(Reed. 0.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 16 The cut in the war risk bonus to Australian seamen was rescinded today by •the Maritime Industry Commission, functioning under the deputy-chairman. 'The bonus will now operate at the old rate of 50 per cent until February 10. The commission, in a statement issued later, said it had been advised by the Crown law authorities that it could continue to function in spite of the resignation of the chairman, Mr Justice de Baun. It was widely feared that failure toi restore the war risk bonus might terl id more strikes on the Australian waterfront. Today all ships affected hj; the recent cooks' strike were fully .manned. It that men who offered for work on ships did so on an j assurance from union leaders that the | bonus would be restored in full. Mr Justice de Baun resigned from . the chairmanship of the commission, giving as his reason tho failure of some ~,of its members to abide by the commission's decision on the reduction of the "war risk bonus. NAZI AGENTS IN SWEDEN tßecd. 11,30 P.m.) ' LONDON, Nov, 10 Reports from Stockholm this morning say that a number of Germans in ' Sweden are being told to leave the country immediately. Xfcey arj* W .jUerod it* fcs Sestaga ags&tft *