DEADLY DROUGHT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLV, Issue 10431, 8 November 1919, Page 7

DEADLY DROUGHT

PLIGHT OF N.S.W. SHEEP AND CATTLE DYING IX THOUSANDS. By Telegraph—l'res« Association—Copyright (Received NovemJ>cr 7, S p.m.) SYDNEY, November 7. Tho drought conditions are daily growing more serious. It is stated that throe-fourths of New South Wales is suffering over wide, districts. The drought is the worst .ever experienced. The wheat crop, is largely a failure and is heing cut. for fodder. Tho reserve stocks, which arre almost used tip, are selling at prohibitive prices. Pastoralists are .suffering tremendous losses and aro rushing their stock to tho market to prevent it dying and selling at tho lowest pirices for years. In some districts tho owners are knocking lambs on the heads so as to givo the mothers a chance of life. In tho far west pastoralists aro abandoning their holdings after removing such stock as arc aible to travel. Ca'ttlo, sheep and horses aro dying in thousands. Sheep, which are too weak to walk, are shorn in the paddocks and then their throats iire cut. It is predicted that unless there is rain before Christmas the drought will spell ,a national calamity, and even if rain comes soon it. is feared that much of the stock will Tie too weak to recover.