Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Saturday 29 June 1889, page 10


THE NEW SOUTH WALES

PARLIAMENT.

[BY SPECIAL WIRE.] -'

(From Gen COWIES.UNDENT,)

SYDNEY, FRIDAY.

When the Assembly adjourned at 20 minutes past 2 this morning, clause 31 of the Land Bill, dealing with forfeited conditional purchases, had been passed, after a long discussion, without any important amendment.

The first portion of to-day's sitting was devoted almost entirely to a discussion on matters connected with irrigation.

Mr. J. P. Abbott moved the second reading of the Wentworth Irrigation Bill, which is intended to vest an area of 14,000 acres, known as the police paddock, in the local corporation, who propose to establish model irrigation farms on much the same plan as those at Mildura,

While not opposing the principle of the bill, the Minister of Mines thought that the question of irrigation should not be dealt with in a piecemeal fashion, but in a comprehensive way as proposed by the Government, who were prepared to introduce an irrigation measure at the earliest opportunity.

Some danger of establishing a huge monopoly was apprehended by Mr. Tonkin, but a majority of the members were favourable to the bill, which was read a second time and passed through committee with a few amendments. The Minister authorises the erection of dams, weirs, and floodgates at Tuhllltaiilcurrn, at the junction of the Darling and the Murray, and the diversion of water from Fletcher's Lake, but only allows the raising of water from the Darling or Murray by pumping, or other means that will not interfere with navigation. Special, provision is made for raising money by loan, and the trust is authorised to lease land for 30 years, instead of fl'J years, as originally proposed. It is stipulated that nothing in the act shall interfere with the general rights of the Crown to control the waters, which will be subject to legisla-tion in a future comprehensive irrigation scheme, and the right is reserved to the Minister of Mines to dissolve the trust, and resume the property on certain equitable conditions.

The Irrigation operations in Victoria were brought under notice during the discussion on this bill, and Mr. Abigail expressed an opinion that immediate action should be taken to check the operations of Messrs. Chaffey Bros., who, under a supposed right conferred by the Victorian Government, are drawing off the waters of the Murray, which belong to this colony.

The idea of any active interference with irrigation operations on the Victorian side was ridiculed by Mr. Lyne, who wanted to know how the rights of New South Wales to the Waters of the Murray could be enforced unless by placing cannon on the river. Although the Constitution Act said that the waters of the Murray belonged to New South Wales, the Government of this colony could not construct a weir across the river as the Victorians would not let New South Wales touch their side of it. He recognised that the three colonies had rights in the matter, and that a joint commission should without delay be appointed by South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales, with a view of arriving at an amicable arrangement, and to avoid that delay the commission should only be created for two or three months. It was unseemly to be squabbling on both sides of the river, and he thought it inadvisable that this colony should commence to take water near Wentworth while blaming Victoria for permitting Messrs. Chaffey Brothers to do the same thing.

The House rose at a quarter past 12.