ONE OF THE WORST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 October 1943, Page 4

ONE OF THE WORST

FARMING AND GARDENING SEASON PHENOMENAL DOWNPOURS IN WELLINGTON. ALL-ROUND PROSPECTS POOR. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. With the ground saturated with rain, which has fallen in large quantity ever since the beginning of June, the two inches which fell yesterday and last night has had the effect of starting a number of slips in the city and suburbs. Some of these are likely to develop into major cases. There is every indication of bad weather continuing. The Hutt Valley is threatened with flooding. Late yesterday and last night the downpour at times was torrential, and a change from north to south-east, though easing the wind, has not been accompanied by a cessation of rain.

Altogether so far this month, Kelburn reports 5.22 inches of rain, and 37 inches since the beginning of June, only five inches less than Wellington’s yearly average of 42 inches. The year’s rainfall is now already 49 inches. The effect of an abnormally wet spring, following on a wet winter, is described by an official of the Department of Agriculture as nothing short of disastrous. Dairy production has been very adversely affected, and is right down—nowhere near what was anticipated. There has been a very bad lambing season, with losses running to a high percentage.

The weather has had a disastrous effect on all vegetable crops, and it has not been possible to prepare land for essential root crops. Altogether the season is one of the worst ever experienced, and even if the weather improves in the near future, farming will take a long time to recover from the setback it has received.

The Dig for Victory campaign, which got a fillip last week-end from a patch of brightness and saw much activity and seed sowing, is suffering severely, and home green vegetable prospects are black.