PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 33 
settlement by the provision of water on stock routes, and 
where necessary on the land itself, and it is a duty owing 
to all classes of settlers, as well as to the State, that the 
land should be made fit for profitable occupation. 
It is beyond question that the greater portion of the 
funds to be provided under the Bill should be expended in 
the semi-arid and arid areas, and the most reasonable 
apportionment over those areas is to allow the claims for 
first expenditure to those with the lesser rainfall. It 
appears also reasonable that where different sources of 
water supply, whether surface or subterranean, traverse 
both semi-arid and arid areas, and which sources are 
not sufficient for the supply of both, that the more arid 
area should have the greater claim, and the policy of 
the State should be to apply the available water propor- 
tionately to the want of rainfall. 
The total supplies of water available from all sources 
are not sufficient to deal with the whole of the arid 
area of the State in dry seasons; it therefore follows 
that the fullest use should be made of every source, 
whether surface or subterranean, and in districts where 
the two overlap, each should be considered in conjunction 
with the other, and their limitations kept in view, so that 
no waste either of water or expenditure occur. 
As regards the class of work to give the best results for 
the expenditure, each unit area must be considered 
separately in connection with the surrounding conditions, 
and where such works are to be placed under trust, and 
interest and sinking funds provided, they must be con- 
sulted as to the class of work to be provided. 
Dealing first with surface waters—the simplest and 
cheapest method of conservation is by the damming of 
natural channels. A glance at the map will show that. 
C—May 6, 1903 
