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In moving the second reading of the Murray
River 'Waters Agreement Bill Mr Swinburne,
Minister of Water Supply, spoke with force and
truth wheu he said that it dealt with a matter
that was of great importance. It would settle
differences that had existed for many years be
tween New South Wales, South Australia aud
Victoria with regard to a distribution of the
waters of the Murray. It has long been realised
that unless irrigation schemes can be conducted
on comprehensive principles in this part of Aus
tralia a very large population nfust be barred
out. On the other hand, the scheme now pro
posed to be jointly undertaken by the three
States will mean that 670 miles will be opened
up for permanent navigation, and thus greatly
promote commerce, while Victoria will have the
advantage of having 53,124,000,000 cubic feet
made available for irrigation. The possibilities
of production under such a scheme are almost
illimitable. So much so, iudeed, that when
-Victoria's proportion of the deficiency is esti
mated it will be readily admitted that she would 1
be justified in spending far more than L37,000
or L45,000 per annum as her portion of the cost
of the necessary works. It is a pity a similar
agreement was not come to many years ago. It
has unfortunately happened that previous
Ministers of Water Supply have not been pos
sessed of the same practical ideas as Mr Svrin"
burne is. The old plan was to construct huge
head works and lengthy channels through which
no water flowed, nor was in the least likely to.
The natural result was that in after years enor
mous sums of money had to bo written off the
liabilities of the various trusts. It is very dif
ferent with the present proposed agreement.
The River Murray, which is the basis of that
agreement, has a coustaut flow of water sufficient
to make, under scientific treatment, not ouly
navigation but irrigation practicable on a largo
scale. The proposal commits the State to an
expenditure of from L750,000 to Ll, 000, 000 and
i to an annual charge of from L37,000 to L45,000.
For this amount Victoria should have availablo
about 80,000,000 cubic feet diversion, even in a
low year. Each of the States has power to
construct reservoirs and store therein flood
waters. It has only to be pointed out that the
drainage area of the Murray is 414,253 square
miles, equal to 256,161,920 acres, to realise what
au immense amount of mateaial the three States
will have to work on. Wo feel sure that this
important subject needs no dilating on to com
mend it to the whole of the community and to
satisfy the taxpayer that he is not being sub
jected to an unproductive burden. There is
also the Federal spirit to be taken into considera
tion in connectian with this agreement. For a
long time it seemed as though the three States
concerned were to be divided on this question.
In addition, it appeared certain that recourse
would have to be made to the law courts in order
to arrive at a decision as to how far each State
was entitled to use such water. This marked
forward step is certain to be but the initiation of
still more gigantic strides towards a recognition
of that community of interests which is the most
valuable of all bases. Mr Swinburne deserves
the highest praise that can lie accorded to him
for bringing this matter to a successful issue. It
will be a bright day for all concerned when the
said agreement has been ratified by the three
Parliaments interested, and when the work of
locking the Murray and of constructing vast
storage works at Lake Victoria, Lake George
and other places has been completed, becauso it
will mean a complete solution of the problem of
bringing large northern areas under close culti
vation. Wheu that work is fiuished Victoria
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