XXIV. ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. 



Mr. Keele then replied to the discussion. He said, I am 

 pleased that Mr. Cardew agrees with me that a 4% per 

 annum cumulative increase in the population is not too 

 great in view of all the circumstances. In all the forecasts 

 which have previously been made, the rate of increase 

 in the population has always been too low. For instance, 

 the Royal Commission of 1902, estimated it at 2\%. Mr. 

 L. A. B. Wade's estimate in 1909, when reporting on the 

 Warragamba scheme, was 3*6%. The extraordinary in- 

 crease from that time to the present may be an abnormal 

 one, but it must be given due weight, extending as it does 

 over a period of seven years. Even if it should prove in 

 the future that my estimate of 4% per annum is excessive, 

 I think it wiser to be prepared for it than to adopt a lower 

 rate. 



With reference to the consumption of water per head of 

 the population, Mr. Oardew takes a strong exception to 

 the figures I have chosen as being much too low, and he 

 also considers that the rate should be progressive and not 

 as I have shown. He thinks the amount of 63 gallons per 

 head per day will be largely exceeded by 1937, and that 

 the works should be designed for that capacity. 



In reply to Mr. Oardew, I would say that I quite agree 

 with him in his argument, and were it reasonably possible 

 to make this provision, I think it should certainly be done. 

 We are, however, most unfortunately in this position, viz., 

 that we must be content to "cut our coat according to our 

 cloth." For at least seven years (indeed ten years would 

 be nearer the truth) we have been resting on our oars, 

 doing nothing to increase the storage, so that it will strain 

 our resources to the utmost to construct the necessary 

 works in the order I have shown during the next twenty 

 years, and even these will barely provide the storage 

 necessary to meet the demand for water, in addition to the 



