WIDESPREAD FALLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25814, 9 April 1945, Page 6

WIDESPREAD FALLS

RAIN IN NEW SOUTH WALES DROUGHT-BREAKING PROPORTIONS (P.A.) SYDNEY, Apl. 7., Widespread rains which began in New South Wales yesterday will save two-thirds of the State’s 1945 wheat crop sowings, said the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Mr W. J. Scully. The rains are expected to continue for some days and it is thought they will break the record drought in the wheat belt outside the Riverina. An Australian Wheat Board spokesman said that ideal conditions now existed for April-June showings of wheat and oats. Grass would shortly cover large areas of parched land, thus enabling the discontinuance of feeding of wheat to sheep. Large vegetable crops have also been saved by the rain. The Riverina, however, has experienced further duststorms instead of rain. Small farmers in the western district who, 18 months ago, had from 3000 to 4000 sheep, now have only 100 or fewer sheep, all in poor condition and likely to die. Many of these farmers are heavily in debt, and though they are still on their ruined properties their means of income is gone. In the coastal districts of New South Wales, severe gales accompanying the rains caused extensive damage. At Woodburn, a small {.own on the north coast, nearly every building was wrecked by hurricanes. The damage is estimated at £20,000. In accidents arising from the storm weather yesterday one person was killed and eight others injured.