SOUTH AFRICAN FARMING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19626, 21 October 1933, Page 15

SOUTH AFRICAN FARMING

CONDITIONS DESCRIBED. In a letter from South Africa a lamer who was at one time sheep raising in New Zealand describes conditions as follows: The one bright spot in the rural situation of South Africa is the rise in wool value. "Slaughter stock also have gone up suddenly,” he says. “Old ewes nearly prime could realise only about 6s. a head in May, but last week (in July) old ewes fetched up to 14s. The Union is still suffering from drought, however. There has been no rain to speak of since January, and most of the stock from this district has been moved to other parts, where there is veld and feed. The entire Free State looks dead and deserted. What stock are left will have a job to pull through the winter. Ordinary wheaten straw, commonly used for bedding, is baled and is being sold at £3 a ton as feed for cattle and horses. The Government has passed certain measures to help keep the farmers on the land. We have been paying, and are paying still, up to 7 per cent, on our bonds (mortgages.