DROUGHT IN CANTERBURY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2671, 18 January 1916, Page 6

DROUGHT IN CANTERBURY

MR. SEASSEJT THINKS THE POSITION SERIOUS. • By Ifelesraph.—Press; Aesooiatlon. Christchurch, January 17. The Prime Minister . returned to. Shiistchurch this evening from a tour ill South Canterbury to inspect-the grain, crop. He said that all the crops were suffering from drought', oats a great deal more than wheat. The latter, however, was . remarkably patchy,, and. likely to : give a very poor yield' in. comparison with an ordinary .season. It was; an important question whether there would "be -sufficient wheat, in the Dominion for qiiirements, .but it wae impossible ;to. give a definite'answer until the ing-machines go to work. There : were 100,000 acres uiore in wheat this'year than last, but the crop was . not nearly so big. All the thresliing-machiues are required. to keep an accurate tallyto' be supplied to the Government Statistician,; so that the position may be known as accurately as possible. It was important that there' should be a sufficient area sown in grain each year Co provide the Dominion's requirements. Fanners have responded well to the appeal to grow more wheat and oats, but on aooount of the drought in Canterbury and: North there will be a deal of difficulty in making ends meet and unless rain oomes soon he. did not know what tho farmers were going to do with store stock, as 'it is: impossible to grow root crops; The, position, therefcro, was serious. ;