AUSTRALIAN DROUGHT.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 429, 30 May 1902, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN DROUGHT.

THE WORST FOR SIXTY YEARS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, May 29. | The speakers at yesterday's meeting ; declared it was the worst drought for the ] last sixty years. New South Wales during the last eight years had lost twenty million sheep, Victoria seven million sheep, and Queensland two million. All the large stations were feeding their stock, and spendingthousands of pounds in doing so. Mr Buck, who recently visited the back country, declared that nothing like the present disaster had occurred since IS4O. Even the gum trees were dying for want of moisture. The obtaining of New Zea land grain, potatoes, and other products was advocated. GOVERNMENT RECOGNISE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION. NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Melbourne, May 29. In the Federal House, Mr Fuller, urging the necessity of suspending tne duties on fodder to save stock, said that in previous droughts supplies had been obtained from New Zealand. Duties now prevented this. He understood that New Zeaiand had a larger quantity of fodder on hand than for manyQUirs. Other members pressed tho urgent necessity of the nation. Mr Deakin said that the Government fully recognised tho gravity of tho situation, and were prepared, if asked, to take unusual steps to meet it. The difficulty ui the way was that this was a union of States whose circumstauces were not all . similar, and they could not touch the duties without the consent of all the States. Steps were being taken to ascertain the views of tho States and the supplies available, ineluding those in New Zealand.