president's address — SECTION H. 619 



of the supply. With many the position is the selfish one that there 

 is enough to last their lifetime, and they have no interest beyond 

 that ; others believe that the supply is practically unlimited, 

 and that restricting the discharge is unnecessary, and in some 

 cases impossible owing to the injury to the bores which would 

 result if it were attempted. 



That the supply is not unlimited need not be argued. Not 

 only is it limited, but it is less than will be needed for domestic 

 and stock purposes alone. Invaluable as is irrigation, artesian 

 supplies cannot be expected to provide for it. Just how limited 

 this supply is and how long the flow will continue are the vital 

 questions. If it is a true artesian supply coming from rain falling 

 on elevated districts the prospect of permanency is far more re- 

 assuring than if much of it is plutonic water, as Professor Gregory 

 believes. Should Professor Gregory's conclusions prove correct, 

 the ultimate and complete exhaustion of this reservoir is inevitable, 

 and it will go out without warning, like a snuffed candle, or like 

 the exhausted oil and gas wells of other lands. Whatever is the 

 origin of this supply, there are need of public control over its use 

 and rigid regulation of waste, and the best means of determining 

 how this control and regulation should be exercised is to first 

 gather the facts. 



The management and use of surface water supplies present 

 questions even more complex and important. This is illustrated 

 by problems of the Murray River and its tributaries, which drain 

 a large part of Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia 

 and Victoria. 



Steamboats ply along the lower course of this river, furnishing 

 a cheap and convenient means of transport to immense and remote 

 pastoral areas ; pumping plants lift its waters to supply irrigation 

 districts, which rival in the perfection and value of their products 

 the century-old districts of other lands ; it furnishes water for 

 drinking and domestic purposes for numerous cities and towns, 

 and products of irrigation supply the greater part of the traffic for 

 important railway lines. The fortunes of individuals, of munici- 

 palities, and even of different States are inseparably interwoven 

 with the management of this stream and the right use of its waters. 

 These rights of widely separated districts are apt to be considered 

 rival and conflicting. They are already of immense importance, 

 and will, in time, come to be of immeasurably greater magnitude. 

 This senders it highly desirable that there be an agreement as to 

 plans and policies which are to control diversions and use in order 

 that development may be systematic and continuous, and that 

 the people who live within this territory may have confidence as 

 to the future. 



The solution of these questions should not be influenced by 

 considerations as to what will be to the selfish interests of a 

 particular State. It is not so much how much land will be irrigated 

 in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, as where the 

 water can be used to the least waste and made available at the 



