Having served in World War I, the soldier-settlers were well aware of the effectiveness of machine guns, and they requested their deployment. įarmers relayed their concerns about the birds ravaging their crops, and a deputation of ex-soldiers were sent to meet with the Minister of Defence, Sir George Pearce. The emus consumed and spoiled the crops, as well as leaving large gaps in fences where rabbits could enter and cause further problems. ![]() With the cleared land and additional water supplies being made available for livestock by the West Australian farmers, the emus found that the cultivated lands were good habitat, and they began to foray into farm territory-in particular the marginal farming land around Chandler and Walgoolan. Emus regularly migrate after their breeding season, heading to the coast from the inland regions. The difficulties facing farmers were increased by the arrival of as many as 20,000 emus. In spite of the recommendations and the promised subsidies, wheat prices continued to fall, and by October 1932 matters were becoming intense, with the farmers preparing to harvest the season's crop while simultaneously threatening to refuse to load the wheat. With the onset of the Great Depression in 1929, these farmers were encouraged to increase their wheat crops, with the government promising-and failing to deliver-assistance in the form of subsidies. Following World War I, large numbers of ex-soldiers from Australia, along with a number of British veterans, took up farming within Western Australia, often in marginal areas.
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