Water Conservation.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 130, 17 June 1885, Page 2

Water Conservation.

Cowou-i rain has fallen all over Now South Wales, and all inimodiato danger of a water famino is thereby averted ; but it is bo coming ovidont that to permanently meet the constantly-recurring scarcity of water, somo comprehousivo conservation scheme must bo ndoptod. For irrigation purposes, as well ns for domestic use, tho providing of water would provo a vest aequi-ition to the wealth of tho sister colony. In various parts of America, whoro the arid climato has rondorod irrigation works necessary, tho result has beon to incrcaso tho valuo of tho land tenfold, and thoro is reason to anticipate at least equal fruits from a similar policy in Australia. As our readers aro aware, commissioners from Australia aro presently oxamining and reporting upon tho system of irrigation employed in tho Unitod States with a view lo introducing that most, suitablo for tho Australian Colonies. A serious drawback in this part of tho world is tho high price of labour, which threatens to make irrigation enterprise unprofitable A gontletnan has been writing to tho Sydnoy papers suggesting the importation of labotiroi. from England to construct the nocossary works. But tho trado unions will havo somothing to .ay boforo that is dono ; for thoy perceive that if men aro brought ovor to work at 4s a day, tho ruling rata of l.s would not long be sustained. Ilcnco it .would appear that Government aid is tho only solution of tho diiliculty; nnd wo loam by roccnt advices that tho Now South Wales Govornmont contemplate raising a largo loan for tho purposes of water conservation. Tho largo squatters aro iitntod to bo willing to pay ti fair prieo for wator, though it would bo impossiblo for them to Hocuro on individual nupply—a calculation showing that it is chouper to sacrifice thousands of hoiul of stock nana ally, or as often ns a heavy drought occurrod—the wretched onimols boing allowed to die of thirst and starvation. Tho voico of humanity joins with that of political economy in condemning such a policy, and it sooms clearly a Stnto duty to provido tho country with tho moans omsontinl to its advancement aud prosperity. Tho stock-raising industry in Now Zoaland not being liamporod by any drawback of tho kind indicated, ought to llourish and givo lucrnl.ivo roturns to thoso ongngod in it, and if tho vastly superior advantages of this colony woro bottor known, her agricultural industries would rocolvo a mighty impetus by tho introduction of monoy, enterprise nnd experience, which are too ofton conspicuously wanting.