West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Friday 8 May 1936, page 24


ANXIETY AT BENCUBBIN.

Barbalin Supply Running Low.

The Primary Producers' Association yesterday received a telegram from its Bencubbin branch stating: — 'Water supply causing anxiety. Can you ascertain from the department how long the present supplies will last. The pumper at Barbalin said yesterday that supplies for ten days only were left. Will the department give an official warning of cutting out of supplies before this actually occurs?' The general secretary (Mr. H. J. Prater) got in touch with the Hydraulic Engineer (Mr. B. S. Crimp), who, he found, had already during the day been discussing the wheatbelt water position with the Agricultural Bank. Mr. Crimp stated that unless rain fell he expected the Barbalin supply to run out during the week ending on May 23. The department would then have no water in that area and the arrangement of further supplies would be a matter for another department. Mr. Prater also discussed the position with the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. C. G. Latham), who has taken up with the Railway Department the question of forwarding essential supplies by rail if rain does not fall in the meantime. A reply accordingly was telegraphed to Bencubbin.