Molong Argus (NSW : 1896 - 1921), Friday 2 October 1914, page 1


Drought in the West.

£200,000 to Relieve Settlers.

Reports from West Australia accentuate the harvest failure. The manager of the Agricultural Bank, which makes advances to settlers on the value of improvements made on their holdings, have returned from a tour of inspection, says that in many districts there are no crops and no feed. Some time ago horses were

turned on the crops to keep them , alive, and now this is burnt up. Nothing remains but starvation, and with chaff at £10 per ton it is impos sible for tbe drougbt-stricken farmers

to feed tbeir hordes.

It is stated that the Premier, Mr Scadden, has at last resolved to raise

money for tbo drought relief by bonds of £200,000, and in exchange for gold to obtain Commonwealth notes on a four to one basis. With those funds the Government will supply settlers with food, seed, and fertilisers where

necessary.

In an interview Mr Scaddon said be

had arranged to got the money from

the Commonwealth.

Saving the Farmer's horses

In order to help drought stricken farmers in South Australia, Mr Sidney Kidman has already provided agist

ment for a thousand horses at his various stations in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, free of cost to the owners, and when seen at tho Abattoirs by the Hon, L. O'Loughlin, he informed the Govern

ment that be could provide for another 400 or 500 bead at Tickalara and Carapunda. Tickalara is in Queens land, jnst over tbo northern boundary of Now South Wale?, and west of Lako Bulloo. From Cookburn tbs distance io a direct line is about 2-10 mileB. A report from Adelaide says that as tbo droagbt oontinnes, and its ramiGcatioos aro extending farther soatb, overy diiy more farmers ara becoming destitute of feod for tbeir horses, and Mt Kidman's effort3 at tbia time to save tbo faimors' stock will ba a groat banefit not only to tbem, but to tbo 8tato generally.