The Daily News. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1914. AUSTRALIA IN A BAD WAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 150, 20 November 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1914. AUSTRALIA IN A BAD WAY.

With the din of the greatest war the world has ever known ringing in their ears and national independence hanging in the balance of fate, many people are not fully seized with the serious position into which Australia is being plunged through the continued absence of rain. From the Gulf of Carpentaria to the southernmost point of the continent the rural industries are struggling against the awful consequences of drought. Though in many places where a good fall of rain would be of inestimable value, there is still a possibility of recovery. The position generally, we learns from the Australian" press, is one of extreme seriousness. In Victoria, during the early months of the season, though the rainfall was far below the average, the wonderful fertility of the soil, enabled the crops to spring into the bloom of life. But there is a stage when the invigorating influence of rain is essential, and, unfortunately, it was at this particular point that nature failed. The remarkable fortitude of the wheat plant, however, withstood the strain of almost a total absence of sustenance for several months, but those crops which have not already perished, are steadily and surely withering to decay. Apart from the almost certain loss of the grain crop in Victoria, which in itself is a calamity, there are well-found-er fears that the supply of fodder both natural and sown, will be far short of requirements. The grazing areas of the State for the greater part have been stripped of all growth, and owners of stock are experiencing a trying time to keep their cattle, horses and sheep alive. At this time of.<(he year when conditions are normal the* countryside is covered with verdure—with the blush of spring—and the markets are overrun with consignments of fat cattle and sheep. Instead of this flourishing state of affairs, the pastures are arid and bare. Stock from the north are being hurried to the coastal districts, where the growth still survives. In fact, the railway department is helping to cope with the demand for rolling stock to remove the hungry animals. Stock that is in a marketable condition is being rushed into the saleyards, as the owners are anxious to sell before the animals depreciate in value. The question that is sorely exercising the minds of pastoralists, however, is the maintenance of their breeding cattle and sheep. These must be kept alive at all costs; not only be kept alive, but in possession, if owners wish to look to succeeding years for recovery. As a consequence those areas of the State where there is still a semblance of fertility are being called upon to support large numbers of cattle and sheep, and it must surely follow that if the tension is not soon relieved, by a a fall of rain, these districts, too, will be shorn of all vegetation. This is the serious aspect of the situation. It has led to keen competition for grazing rights. : In the irrigated areas exhorbitant rates are being paid for the hire of grass paddocks. In the Rochester district, for example, as much as £1 a head has been j oirered for the right to graze valuable ! sheep for five months. Gippsland, which usually benefits from coastal rains, is also suffering under the dry spell. The district is being overrun with starving stock, and in a very short time the graz° ing lands will become exhausted. It ia this phase of the situation that is causing alarm. The areas where there is natural feed are being called upon to support three times as much stock as they are capable of sustaining for any length of time, so that the position will become very grave when the grass has j been eaten down. During the 1902 drought, Gippsland was in a position to absorb thousands of starving stock. ' Such is not the case this year. The other States arc also in the grip of the drought. Those in a position to offer an opinion say that the season in Kew South Wales is probably the worst experienced at any time for the past 35 years, not excepting "the big drought of 1902. With the exception of the Moree district, and from there across to Corindia, on the northern railway line, the whole of the State is in a drought stricken condition. In South Australia, tho position is equally bad. In the near northern areas.wliere the wheat crop has never absolutely failed before, it is improbable, according to the local papers, that there will be even the semblance of a harvest. Places which in previous drought years returned from eight to ten bushels per aero will probably not yield seed this year. The pastoral industry in the State is in a parlous condition. Losses of stock have been great, and in many cases lambings have been entirely lost. The situation as regards wheat production in New South Wales is equally as bad. In the Forbes, Parkes, and Xorromine districts the crops are almost a total failure, though in isolated places there is still a glimmer of hope. Should there be a good fall of rain shortly, absolute loss will be turned into a moderate saving harvest. We in New Zealand, especially in Taranaki, should be very thankful that our lot is cast where droughts, in the real meaning of the term, are unknown. We have had a dry spell, certainly, but the rains have come m time to enable the grass to come away and support tho stock. With the increased prices for our produce, Taranaki, at least, should just about establish a record for the value of its output this season.