THE AUSTRALIAN HARVEST

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2284, 19 October 1914, Page 6

THE AUSTRALIAN HARVEST

SIGNS OF THE DROUGHT ■-.'■.-,. BREAKING PRESS VIEWS ON GRAIN PROSPECTS Sydney, October 17. Good rain is falling over a large portion of the State. There is great jubilation at the promised break-up or the drought. The morning papers, reviewing the wheat outlook, predict that the crop will be largely a failure. "The "Sydney Morning Herald"' says .that according to reports received from various centres it is doubtful if more than two million acres will be harvested out of three and a half million, from which it was expected/ to cut"grain-, and that area does not- promiso'to' yield moro than seven and a half million bushels. As the local consumption of wheat amounts to eleven million, bushels, it must be realised that the outlook is very bad. The "Daily Telegraph" estimates that at best two and a half million acres will be harvested, and considers that a yield of six bushels -per acre is a liberal assessment. On this basis fifteen million bushels will be. the limit of the yield, but unless the crops are helped by tho weather it is hardly likelyto be realised. Selling for home requirements, food and seed will absorb fourteen million bushels, so there will not be much margin for adverse eventualities. The "Telegraph" adds :— "There are vast areas still in the balance to be made or marred by the elements. Any forecast at this, stage must bo more or less guesswork." • (Eec. October 18, 11.10 p.m.) Heavy rain continues, the area- widening. The Riverina is participating. BEST RAINS SINCE MARCH. (Rec. October 18, 4.40 p.m.) Sydney, October 18. The drought has broken. Tho best rain since March has been experienced over the greater part of New South Wales. The Riverina is practically the only district which so far has not participated. There are still showery conditions in tho Riverina and elsewhere, including Victoria, South Australia, and Southern Queensland, which benefited to a less extent. Conditions are favourable to further rain, and the outlook generally is greatly improved. There are good hopes that yesterday's, pessimistic wheat crop forecast will be considerably brightened. There was an incessant downpour in Sydney yesterday, and all sports, including Tattersal'l's Club race meoting, had to be postponed.

TRADE IN NEW SOUTH WALES. . Sydney, October 17. New South Wales imports decreased by £992,485 and exports by £1,024,439. The Victorian exports decreased £695,745 as compared with the previous September. "; AUSTRALIAN WAR FUNDS. Sydney, October 17. The total of the war funds in New South Wales is £318,000. Melbourne, October 17. The war funds total £199,000. ANTI-GERMAN STRIKE. Sydney, October 17. Miners in the Hetton Colliery have struck'as a protest against the employment of a naturalised Gorman.