DROUGHT IN QUEENSLAND.

Shannon News, 3 April 1928, Page 2

DROUGHT IN QUEENSLAND.

HEAVY LOSSES OF SHEEP.

In a conversation with a Standard reporter, Mr. F. Longney, a one time resident of Foxton, but latterly of Cloneurry, north-west Queensland, gave some interesting details of the drought recently experienced in Queensland.

"The rainfall about Cloneurry is very small,” said Mr. Longney, "and latterly there has been heavy mortality among the sheep. In many instances farmers have lost '25 per cent, of their ffoeks and, in some areas, as high as 50 per cent. During the dry spells the squatters have necessarily to buy feed for the sheep and cattle and the expense in '.this direction is considerable.

"January, February and March are looked upon as the rainy months, but., up to the time of my leaving, there had been no rain. At Boulia, close to Cloneurry, there has been no rain of any use for the past four years. An idea may be gauged of the size of the squatters’ flocks -when they speak of owning so many square miles of land. The question how many acres does not count.

"During the past three or four years,” continued Mr. Longney, "conditions have been fairly serious. However, the farmers are an optimistic band and take their troubles as they come. Although the average summer temperature is 110 degrees in the shade, it is surprising what a very slight fall of rain will do. What were patches of ground, devoid of all signs of grass, will quickly take on a verdant appearance. "Labour in the neghbourhood of Cloneurry is fairly plentiful as good wages are being paid, the average labourer earning about £1 per day. Contrary to what is experienced in other parts of Queensland, it is practically all white labour. "The discovery at Mount Isa, about 150 miles from Cloneurry, of a fairly extensive lead field,” said Mr. Longney, "has aroused considerable interest in the district. An English syndicate is controlling the field and is contemplating spending £2,000,000 on its exploitation. The find is of no small importance and the field will be, it is hoped, a national asset.”