»- ay = 
«4% 
‘ % 
a : 
: 
. 
32 W. H. WARREN. 
carrying a closely-settled population. Most of these 
swamps are situated close to the coastal rivers, are easy 
of access, only requiring the necessary drainage works, 
and perhaps in addition works of water supply, it being 
found with swamps of large area that, when drained, 
artificial means of supplying water for stock purposes 
have usually to be resorted to. Outside of the swamp 
lands in the humid and semi-humid areas facilities for 
water conservation exist on the undulating country 
within the means of the majority of settlers, and a small 
expenditure only in this direction should be necessary. 
With a view of offering facilities for closer settlement, a 
proportion of the funds to be provided under the Bill 
should be expended on swamp drainage and water supply. 
Drainage works are now in progress on the Coopernook 
Swamp on the Manning River, while works have just been - 
completed on the Duranba Swamp on the Tweed River. 
Numerous schemes are under preparation for dealing with 
other of the coastal swamps, but I would recommend that 
works be put in hand in connection with the Macleay 
Swamps, which represent an area of 60,000 acres of most 
valuable land, capable of close settlement. 
The most pressing want at the present time is without 
doubt to make it possible for those who have been drawn 
to the arid areas and expended capital and labour to 
remain there with a fair certainty of making a living. 
Outside of the claims of the individual, it is clearly to the 
detriment of the State as a whole that any of its lands 
should be allowed to go out of occupation as have large 
areas recently in the Western Division. These areas 
become breeding-grounds for noxious animals and plants, 
and cause damage probably far in excess of the cost of 
providing facilities for their settlement, so that it is 
therefore to the interests of the State to promote larger 
