DROUGHT IN AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1919, Page 5

DROUGHT IN AUSTRALIA.

FEED'AND WATER DISAPPEARING. PAST DIMINISHING FLOCKS. By Telegraph.—rress Assn.—Copvrlcht. Received Nov. 26, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 26. A special representative of the Daily Telegraph, who is visiting the drought areas, supplies gloomy reports of the rapidly disappearing feed and water. Where stock is not driven off runs, owners are adopting all sorts of expedients to save their fast-diminishing flocks and herds. The late rains relieve)} tlie situation to a very small extent.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. EXAGGERATED STATEMENTS. NO CAUSE FOR ALARM. Sydney. Nov. 20. Dissatisfaction was expressed in the Assembly at 'the probable evil effects of the alleged alarmist cables regarding the drought in New South Wales despatched from .Sydney and published in English papers. Mr. Holman said it was a pity that the English papers -should take reports of Australian conditions from a gentleman who apparently never went farther than his office window. He had cabled to Sir Charles W 7 ade, the'Agent-General, to deny the statements and sent official statements showing the actual measure of the damage caused by the drought. Sydney, Nov. 26. A sensational cablegram published by The Times and Daily Mail was referred to in the Assembly by Mr. Holman. It 6aid that Australia, especially New South Wale 3, was suffering from the most devastating drought in white man's history, far surpassing the 1902 drought. Thousands of settlers were fuined, towns were deserted and stations abandoned. In the north-west of New South Wales wild dogs were in possession and the wheat crop was insufficient even for seed purposes. Sir Charles Wade has refuted the statements in the cable. He says that there is no cause for alarm. Although matters in some parts are undoubtedly very bad, copious rains have fallen in the Riverina and the country is in wonderful condition. Tibooburra. where the conditions are reported to be particularly bad, is on the fringe of an area which is always partially dry. Business men in London connected with Australia deplore the exaggerated statements which are not in accordance with private cablegrams.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.