FLOODS AND DEFECTIVE DRAINAGE. 07 



prominence, people have approached me on the subject, 

 expressing a desire that some action might be taken to remedy 

 this state of matters, and as a first step I have decided to reprint 

 the following extracts from that part of my address dealing with 

 " Floods and Drainage." 



Now that the problem of the production of food has become 

 so pronounced, I state with confidence that in no other way can 

 such large areas of land be so quickly and at so small an outlay 

 secured and rendered available for the purposes of production. 



Much discussion has already taken place as to how to secure 

 additional areas for cultivation, and I trust important authorities 

 who are responsible for the provision of the food of the people 

 will have this matter taken up and inquired into without delay. 



I might also point out another important aspect which this 

 problem presents, namely, that of providing useful national 

 employment for our gallant soldier labourers on returning home 

 after the war. 



Such operations should not, of course, be undertaken un- 

 prepared or in a hurry, and a strict investigation and inquiry 

 should first be instituted, and schemes prepared by competent 

 authority and by engineers. Surely now is the proper time for 

 this preliminary work ; and I would suggest that County Councils 

 be approached with a request to make a return of flooded lands 

 in their districts. 



Such an appeal as I have endeavoured to formulate should at 

 any rate interest three Departments of the ministry — that of 

 Agriculture, that of Food Control, and that of Re-construction, 

 as affecting not only our immediate requirements, but our future 

 position as well. 



Extracts from Address. 



" Any observant person moving about the country cannot fail 

 to notice large areas of waterlogged land, and in many parts 

 extensive districts subject to flooding. 



" It is first of all essential to effective drainage that surplus 

 water should have a free outward flow. All water must, sooner 

 or later, find its way into the running brooks, streams, and 

 rivers by which it is conducted to the ocean. It therefore 

 follows, as a condition precedent to good drainage, that the 

 streams and rivers should themselves be so regulated and 

 controlled as to afford a free and uninterrupted flow. 



