'The bountiful rains which came a Christmas present to the parched and drought-stricken areas of Australia, will not make any' material difference to this year's wheat yield but will at least help the farmers of the Mallee (Vie~ toria) and the Riverina (New South Wales) and the northernmost parts of South Australia to replenish their dams and furnish some herbage for their stock. Efforts been in force for some time past to secure free agistment country for the Mallee stock, and many farmers in the more favoured areas have been looking after the horses and cattle of their less fortunate rural compatriots. At Dubbo, la New South Wales, while a cricket match was in progress, a heavy fall of rain took place. The ericketers' jubilant at this Christmas blessing, left the ground giving three cheers for the much-needed water. In South Australia, and Central Australia, parts of which have been subjected to a drought for over six years heavy falls of rain are reported, In some of the the driest parts of the Northern Territory rain has also been falling. Broken Hill, N.S.W., has also been favoured with rain and the district is rejoicing at what they consider the turn of their luck. 'The stantial rains are the main topic of interest in the country, and at' the moment even Christmas is, taking second place. As for our politicians little if anything" is heard about them for they cannot very well claim credit for the wet Christmas which has proved such a blessing in the rural districts and should eventually prove an aid in the unemployment problem. Labour's bote noir,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.