Irrigation in Egypt and S.A. 451 



amateur interference, until 1890, and is still a source of constant 

 anxiety and expense. Few who have not seen it can thoroughly 

 realise the destructive power of water, and if disasters are to be 

 avoided in this country, irrigation works in it must be made secure 

 and sound, even if the precautions, that appear to the uninitiated 

 unnecessary, are costly. The third is the control by the State of 

 large streams. Under the old regime in Egypt, water was not 

 thoroughly used, and all sorts of canals were dug, that, while 

 benefiting the land of, probably, one rich owner, ruined, or tended 

 to ruin, the land of his poorer neighbours by infiltration. 



Under a clear law which, whether drastic or not, at any rate 

 metes out equal treatment to all, regardless of influence or social 

 position, the people are content, and full use is made of the 

 water. 



Under the present law in South Africa, the water is incapable 

 of being fully utilised for irrigation, and will continue to be so 

 unless controlled by the State, or by some other body that can be 

 trusted to administer it in a perfectly unbiassed and impartial 

 manner, and with a view to its thorough utilisation. 



The fourth is the necessity for regarding irrigation development 

 on broad lines, and not as a petty matter of politics. Egypt in 

 this respect has been fortunate. Its Government is autocratic, and 

 it has been possible there to carry out the large development of the 

 ■country without the constant and vexatious interference in matters 

 of general policy that are almost sure to arise under a popular and 

 party form of Government. 



Had the construction of the Barrage in 1833, or its repair in 

 1833, been decided on by popular vote, it is morally certain that the 

 inhabitants of a country already burdened with debt would have 

 refused to incur further liabilities. Egypt then would have continued 

 to produce staple crops of beans and barley instead of the rich one 

 it now exports. It is also almost certain that a plebescite would 

 have vetoed the construction of the dam at Assouan, or other large 

 works designed to improve, in a way they did not understand, the 

 summer supply of water. 



South Africa has a more intelligent population than Egypt, and 

 any irrigation schemes in it will be much smaller and more obvious 

 than those in that country. Still, there is a little danger that irriga- 

 tion schemes may be blocked for want of funds, due to the desire 

 of particular districts that the money should be distributed among 

 them for farm improvements or very small dams for stock. Such 

 improvements are not inconsistent with expenditure on larger works, 

 but unless the subject is looked at from the standpoint of general 

 development, it may happen that sums subscribed by the general 

 taxpayer may be used solely for the benefit of particular individuals 

 without materially increasing the general wealth of the country, 

 and that the available water will not be made thorough u.se of, 

 which would practically entail the loss of a national asset. 



