DROUGHT IN AUSTRALIA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 74, 30 March 1915, Page 4

DROUGHT IN AUSTRALIA.

Mr George, li. Turton, General Manager for Australasia of the Iloyal Insurance Company, told an interviewer at Auckland last week that unless Australia gets rain within the next two or three weeks the worst possible conditions are going to prevail. New Zealand, he thinks, is very lucky indeed when compared with Australia. The drought in the State of Victoria is extremely serious, and Mr Turton believes that never in its history have the conditions been so unfavorable. Matters are much worse than in 1902. The large station-holders hardly know what to do with their stock. As may he expected, the effect on business, generally is very marked, and in Australia even the great war has ueen overshadowed by the drought. "With rain in the coming two or three weeks things in the Commonwealth would brighten up and quickly resume thennormal conditions. Matters in New South Wales are not by any means as serious as in Victoria, hut it is not only being felt there, but was also extending to Queensland. The drought in New South Wales is generally admitted to he worse than that of 1902, an<ji it is being felt to its fullest extent in the far western districts. With the exception of the Hunter River and coastal districts, trouble is being experienced all along. *