NEW SOUTH WALES FLOODS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1920, Page 5

NEW SOUTH WALES FLOODS.

BASIS OF WHEAT,

By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.

Sydney, Dec. 14.

The Minister's calculations as to wheat loss is an estimate founded upon the reports of the wheat inspecor and is n»t based solely upon the results of farmers' inability to harvest fallen and tangled crops, hut includes the necessarily large proportion of under quality and non-millable grain, for which there is only a limited local market and which can be exported under the greatest difficulty. Estimates show that the total harvest will amout to 40 million bushels f.a.q. and five milliolo bushels chick wheat. Asked if the estimate of the damage was not unduly large, the Minister said he would be pleased if it so proved, but he was forced to his conclusions, after revising all the available facts.

REPORTS MORE HOPEFUL. Reports from the wheat areas are incomplete, but on the whole are a little more hopeful than were at first anticipated. Apparently the greater part of the Riverina escaped serious damage, but over large areas in the south and central west the losses are heavy. The ground is so boggy that harvesting operations are impossible inside a week or ten days, and this rneans appreciable loss from shedded grain, irrespective of the damage from weathering. All hopes of a good save centre on the return of fine weather and speeding up the harvesting of fallen and tangled crops. Great quantities of hay are damaged. The weather is now hot and the ground is drying.