THE AUSTRALIAN DROUGHT

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16607, 3 December 1919, Page 3

THE AUSTRALIAN DROUGHT

ASSISTANCE FOR FARMERS. By To'e-graph—Press Assn.—Copyright. SYDNEY, Dec. 2. A movement is afoot to bring stock from the drought stricken areas to depasture on vacant lands in the suburbs. Centennial Park will be utilised by tho Government for 500 stud sheep from the Nowngan experimental farm. Tho sheep are now starving. The Minister of Lands, in moving the .second reading of the .Farmers’ Drought Bill, providing for an advance of £1,000,000 and a moratorium, said that the drought was affecting seveneighths of tho State, and was more serious than tho Government had ever had to deal with. The Bill was rend a second time.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RAIN IN THE EAST. A HOPEFUL FORECAST. (Received Dec.. 3, 10.43 a.m.) SYDNEY* Lee. 3. Further heavy rains have fallen in tho eastern part of tho State and there aro indications of an extension of the to tho far west.. The Government meteorologist states that ho has reason to believe that tho drought will bo, broken this month and that it will he followed by good supplementary rains. MONSOONAL RAINS. (Received Deo. 3, 12.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dee. 3. Rains of a monsooual character of over six inches have fallen in some coastal districts. In a few dry areas over two inches has fallen and, in the wheat areas, with few exceptions, there have been good falls, but the crops will not benefit to the san.c extent as if the rain had been weeks earlier.