The Murray Waters Agreement: 833 



these exceptionally dry months) of over 200,000 cubic feet. In April 

 last the flow was 66,000 at the boundary. That is a little more 

 than a quarter of the lowest of a typically low year. We ought to have 

 had a natural How of 305,000 — we had only 66,000 ; therefore, each 

 of the amounts to be taken by South Australia, New South Wales, 

 and Victoria would, under this agreement, have to be reduced by the 

 proportion of 305,000 to 66,000. Victoria's share would thus be 

 reduced from 100,000 to 21,600 cubic feet per minute. That is 

 extremely low, but it ivas a great deal more than was drawn from all 

 sources for Victoria for that month. The actual amount taken from 

 all sources in Victoria that month was 16,700 cubic feet per minute, 

 including the total from the Goulburn, the Murray, and at Mildura. 

 Then in March, where it approaches nearest, it comes to about 26,000 in 

 each case. At all other times the amount divertible under the agreement 

 has been vastly in excess of the amount actually diverted. Then, 

 it must be borne in mind, that the question has been dealt with apart 

 from storage altogether. Assuming that we have no storage at the 

 Goulburn and Waranga (because we will not have it at Waranga for 

 two years) yet under this agreement we would be able to take more 

 water than was ever used during those extremely disastrous months 

 4his year. 



In addition, the Premier said he would not be prepared to ask 

 Parliament to sanction any agreement that would not be absolutely 

 safe for the people of this country. He had taken up the position 

 that, in recommending any agreement of this kind to Parliament at 

 the present time, we ought to show that the water necessary for the 

 actual uses, and now available for the various Trusts in Victoria, 

 might be taken away without materially, or to any appreciable extent, 

 trenching upon the water supply reserves in the Waranga Storage. 



Under the close examination he had been able to give to the 

 subject with the different experts and with the assistance of the very 

 carefully-drawn chart, so far as he could see into a matter beset with 

 complications, it seemed to him that the agreement was one that gave 

 absolute security to all existing rights, and preserved all the right of 

 drawing away any of the water that would be necessary during this 

 dry period. The Waranga storage, when made, would, of course, be 

 filled, not when the river was running at this abnormally low rate, but 

 when there was a full river, and it would afford an abundant secvirity 

 against failure. It would make our position infinitely stronger than 

 the figures indicate ; but, on the other hand, it must not be forgotten 

 that before it is made or completed we should have (if we get the 

 necessary funds) to proceed with the formation of the channel west- 

 ward and with the supply of water to the Trusts for which it was 

 (U'iginally intended. He assured them that in anything like normal 

 conditions there was no reason for concern at all, and that even under 

 abnormal conditions there was no cause for apprehension. 



In replying to questions, the Premier declared that it was 

 absolutely incorrect to state that water would have to be let out of 

 our storages to make up a flow of 150,000 cubic feet at the eastern 

 boundary of South Australia. 



