The Australian Drought.

Manawatu Herald, 30 June 1903, Page 3

The Australian Drought.

A wool-olasser who has been in the habit of going to A»atr»li* for th« sheering season recently wrote to » number of woolbrekeri and station •gents in Sydney and Melbourne tilting if the drought and the le* plated fioeks would affect hie ehaneee •I employment. > Ktr hai now received lepliei, all dated between May IStk and May 25th, whieh shew that the troubles of the Auitraliau paitoraliski areby no means at an «nd. The following are some extracts : (X) " I am afraid there is no chance of any sheds this coming season, and would not advise anyone to cone over here on' spec.' There have been tremendous losses in sheep since last shearing, and it is estimated that there are not twenty million sheep to shear, and a good many Stations that in ordinary years are good big sheds this year will not he worth going to. If ’a man can get any sort of job in New Zealand he will be better off there than here." (2) '• I regret I have no classing to offer you at present. We have had some excellent rains as you say, but there are, nevertheless, many parts of this State that are still badly off for grass, and I am afraid it will take some years before the country is up to Us normal state of prosperity. What With railway strikes, drought, «rad bad Government in Australia, tou ought to consider yourself lucky to live in New Zealand." (8) " The drought is still with ns, very little better than when you were here, and tho clip in this district will be a very small ons this season." (4)i We regret having no position to offer you, and do nob recommend you to come to Sydney unless, one or two sheds ate assured, as owing to the general depletion of flocks in this State woolclassing appointments will be very uncertain during the next season. (5) it Under the circumstances we cannot recommend you to return to thifi State in anticipation of 'finding work, as there are always a number of men on hand to take up anything ■fftting."