Water, water, everywhere?

Press, 12 April 1980, Page 14

Water, water, everywhere?

By

WHIM WHAM

Sea water can now be exported to Australia free of duty . . . The Department; of Trade and Industry readily agrees that there is no trade in sea water with Australia . . . One never knew (said a spokesman) when sea water, for example, could be in short supply and therefore become a commodity to be traded. —News. The Poet said, his Love would last ‘Till a’ the Seas gang dry’ — He didn’t, seriously, forecast That Possibility — His Thoughts, if any, were Romantic, Nothing to do with the Atlantic. You’ll find a Text in Revelation Which says, the Sea shall hemo More — Sir, choose your own Interpretation! A heavenly Metaphor — If that’s a Lapse of Taste, blame Me, The Devil, and’the deep blue Sea. Blame also, those prophetic Souls In Industry and Trade, Who freed the Seas from their Controls — No Duty shall be paid On genuine Cook Strait Sea Water By the Australian Importer. Sir, how prophetic can They get, Our departmental Cognoscenti? 77 .. Our Seas were wide, and deep, and wet, ■ We thought there must be Plenty — An Ocean? and an Ocean Shelf — Lower youf : Bucket, ;help Yourself! : v; A:-World of Shortages will-not • Find this One such an Oddity — Oil, Food, Clean Air, no matter What Is the next scarce Commodity Our great-grandchildren will be eking! Is the Pacific Basin leaking?.