NORTHERN DROUGHT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1641, 19 May 1919, Page 8

NORTHERN DROUGHT.

A SERIOUS OUTLOOK. EFFECT ON STOCK MARKET. [Special to The San.] FEILDING, May 19. Feilding is feeling keenly the prevailing drought conditions, though not to the same extent as some of its neighbours. A well-known settler, in the course of an interview, stated that many of the farmers who had lived in the district for years consider they have never before seen the country so devoid of feed at this time of the year. However, the country round Feilding is well watered, otherwise the position would be just as serious as that in Hawke's Bay. With the present weather, the farming community will be able to carry on without much difficulty for about three weeks, but it is feared that a wet winter will then set in. If such happens to be the case the position will at once become serious.

Already there has been a fall in the prices of sheep and cattle. The fall is roughly estimated at from llio 10/- a head for sheep, and from 30/- to £3 a head in the case of cattle. The fall set in a few weeks ago, and is- gradually increasing as the drought continues. Friday's sales witnessed a further shrinkage, the entry of stock and cattle being small, and the bidding listless. There is a shortage of winter feed, and unless soft rain falls the shortage will become acute. Supplies of hard feed are not very plentiful, and in the case of chaff prices are soaring upwards. The principal source of supply of chaff is the south, and the lack of tonnage lately has reduced supplies. Chaff which was worth', say, £7 a ton six weeks ago is now worth £9, and there is every indication that the price will continue to go up. - ■