WORST DROUGHT YET.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1790, 8 November 1919, Page 9

WORST DROUGHT YET.

PARCHED AUSTRALIA. TREMENDOUS LOSSES FEARED. By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright. SYDNEY, November 7. The drought conditions are daily growing more serious. It is stated that three-fourths of New South Wales is suffering. The drought is the worst ever experienced. The wheat crop, which is largely a failure, is being cut for fodder. Reserve stocks, which are almost used up, are selling at prohibitive prices. Pastoralists, who are suffering tremendous losses, are rushing stock to market to prevent it dying, and selling at the lowest prices for years. In some districts the owners are knocking lambs and calves on the head, so as to give the mothers a chance of life. In the far west, the pastoralists are abandoning their holdings, after removing such stock as are able to travel, and cattle, sheep and horses are dying by thousands. Sheep which are too weak to walk are shorn in the paddocks, after which their throats are cut. It is predicted tf?at unless there is rain before Christmas the drought will spell national calamity, and even if rain comes soon, it is feared much oMhe stock will be too weak to recover.