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BAMOS
Mar 2020
He then added:
Mr. Hunt points out that past records show that
periods of extreme dryness were not very prolonged,
but soon gave place to increased rain activity—also
that the frequent development lately of tropical
depressions, each of which has been associated with
rain, is a hopeful sign for the summer season.
The Prime Minister’s statement created a storm of protest from
an unconvinced rural Australia, with the ongoing lack of rain
sarcastically referred to as “Fisher’s Little Drought”. Angry letters
to the editor poured in to newspapers around the country
and these extracts from an Editorial that appeared in The
Bendigonian on 30 March 1915 7 were typical:
We quite agree with Mr. Fisher that it is not wise
to be unduly pessimistic, but why fly in the face of
absolute and incontrovertible facts? Mr. Fisher, with
his salary of £50 a week coming in regularly can
afford to be optimistic. Mr. Fisher states that in every
case intense drought has been followed by good
seasons and increased productiveness. What has
happened before may happen again and the hope
will be universal that the outlook with regard to rain
will speedily become better than it has been for some
time past, and that the anxiety with regard to the
future may be allayed. But why attempt to minimize
the severity of the drought and the seriousness of
the situation?
After a dry first few months of 1915, Hunt’s optimism proved
well placed although a little later than first predicted. From
mid autumn increasing rainfall totals developed with Adelaide
receiving 62 mm in April, followed by 73 mm for May. This was
followed by 86 mm in June—the wettest month since June
1912—and then 69 mm was recorded in July. 2 Heavy rain
also extended to inland areas of South Australia and Victoria,
effectively ending the drought. Not only were Hunt’s predictions
vindicated, but also Fisher’s confidence in them.
The Right Honourable Andrew Fisher, 5th Prime Minister of
Australia . Source: Wikipedia Commons