CHAIRMAN S ADDRESS XXV. 



It has been admitted that the question is a difficult one 

 from a financial point of view, but here again the engineer 

 has an opportunity of solving the problem of bringing the 

 sewering of country towns within the perimeter of practical 

 politics and practical municipal finance. In this connection 

 engineers want to study systems more suitable for the low- 

 lying and flat areas upon which our country towns are 

 built, in order to dispense with the costly and heavy 

 works entailed by the adherence to gravity methods. 



The subject chosen for my discourse would be incomplete 

 without some reference to the problem of irrigation and 

 w r ater conservation, which, notwithstanding all that has 

 been said and written about it, in this Section and else- 

 where, is still a problem unsolved. When viewed in the 

 light of development of the Australian continent it assumes 

 a greater magnitude than ever, and to the mind of the 

 engineer, is one of intense fascination. The start now 

 being made at Barren Jack is the first step in the march of 

 conservation progress, and should be watched in New South 

 Wales with the same solicitude that a young mother 

 watches her infant's first attempt at walking, in order 

 that no initial mistake will mar its future progress. 

 Neither time nor inclination will permit me to dilate 

 further on a well-worn subject, except to remark that its 

 successful prosecution will still further develop engineering 

 in Australia. 



In conclusion, there are, doubtless, other problems for 

 engineers to solve in Australia. The municipal, mining, 

 and marine engineer, each in his different sphere, has 

 various obstacles to overcome, and activities to develop. 

 But I venture to think that I have touched upon what are 

 more or less pressing. 



To the empire builder, the statesman, the patriot, the 

 politician, the economist, and the student of history these 



