728 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION J. 
5.—IRRIGATION WORKS IN AUSTRALIA: HOW 
THEY MAY BE MADE REMUNERATIVE. 
By W. W. Cutcnern, M.Inst.0.E. 
[ Adstract. | 
1. THE main deductions on the points dealt with in this paper 
may be briefly summarised as follows :— 
(a) If irrigation is entirely optional, the landowners being 
quite free to take the water or not as they like, the 
revenue derived from water-rates is not likely to be 
sufficient to pay interest as well as working expenses 
for very many years to come. 
(4) If irrigation be made in a measure compulsory, by the 
landowners having to pay a general rate to enable the 
Trusts to meet their engagements with the Government, 
a speedy extension of irrigation may be expected. 
(c) The general rate for the payment of interest should be 
levied from the commencement of operations. It would 
usually be a low rate at first, owing to payment of part 
of the interest only being then required. 
(2) The instalments of interest payable should increase 
yearly by equal increments, and should not depend in 
any way on the area irrigated. 
(ec) The landowners must agree to pay two charges—one, a 
general rate to meet interest on loan, to be paid by all ; 
and the other to defray working expenses, to be paid by 
those only to whom water is supplied. 
(7) Further. concessions regarding payment of interest 
should be made only on condition that a general rate is 
levied to meet the charge. 
(g) The appointment by the Government of experts, one to 
advise the Trusts which are in difficulties how to regulate 
their operations, and the other to advise the farmers 
how to use the water, would probably do much good. 
2. An endeavour was made’in the paper to show how the Trusts 
may carry out the task which they undertook to perform, and for 
which they have been constituted, in a manner that is likely to 
result satisfactorily to all concerned. The works should be 
managed on commercial principles, and not as ordinary municipal 
institutions. A competent manager should be appointed, and 
interfered with as little as possible. An Irrigation Trust, formed 
under the Act, is really a company, the liability of which is 
unlimited. All the landowners in the district are shareholders, 
es 
