DROUGHT STRICKEN FARMER

Chronicle (Levin), 10 June 1946, Page 8

DROUGHT STRICKEN FARMER

-Press Association

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AUtJvLAND, June 9. Ways in which the New -Soutli Wales, fiovennneul dealt with drought and assisted fannors through the resultant crisis, were outlined by the New Soutli Wales Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Edgar II. Gniham, who arrived from Sydney by Jlying boat on Saturday 011 a three weeks' visit to New Zealand. .Mr. (irahaiu, 'who is a niember of the Legislative Assembly for Wag'ga Wagga, has held the portfolio of Agriculture since 1944. While ho is in the Dominion, Mr. Graham will hold discussions with the New Zealand .Minister of Agriculture, Hon. B. Roberts, on the question of reciprocal trade in farm and vegetable seeds. He will also make an extensive* tour of farming districts as far south as. Timaru, accompanied by an ofificer of the Department of Agriculture. Discussiug Ihe difficulties countered in the drive for . increased production in Australia, Mr. Graham said that, added to the grave labour shortage was insuliicient farm machinery. On top of all this had been two of the most vvidespread and severe droughts in tne State 's history. "So serious was the drought, oi. 1944M5 that - practicallyy #0/ whole of • the wheat aiid cereal '* crops'- of'p'the Riverina district, normally our greatest producer of grain, cxmipletely failed," said M r. Graham. ' ' To assist f armers in their ditliculty and . to ensure their eontinuhig in operation, the Commonwealtli and State Governments in equai sums made £1,000,000 available in direct cash grants. At the sanie time it.wns found necessarv in ordor t-o'save the dairy herds of the same area from extinction, to send 4000 head of stoek many hundreds o'f miles by rail to the central west wliere rains had fallen. This was the greatest mass movement of dairy stock in the history of Australia and was arranged and c-arried out in every detail by my department. The fact that the stock was returned to its owners . after three months at a total eost of 30s a head, is proof no't only oi thf government 's concern for the well being of the primary producer but also of the efficiency of its organisation. ' ' I11 spite of the drought and other (lisabilities, as the result of complete cooperation between f armers and the government, they had . been able to increaso food production to a remarkable degree," added Mr. 'Graham. #