1919.] 
Reviews and Abstracts. 
155 
(4.) That the development of the Empire’s natural resources is 
inseparably connected with that of its water-powers. 
(5.) That the development of such enormous possibilities should not 
be left to chance, but should be carried out under the guidance 
of some competent authority. 
Recommendations. —In view of these conclusions the committee would 
submit the following recommendations :— 
(1.) That the British Government bring before the notice of the Indian 
Government, of the various Dominion Governments, and of the 
governing bodies of the Crown colonies, the necessity for a close 
systematic investigation of all reasonably promising water-powers, 
and of their economic possibilities. 
(2.) That the British Government take steps to ascertain whether the 
Governments concerned are prepared to undertake this work. 
(3.) That where such an inquiry is beyond the powers of any governing 
body, the British or Imperial Government place the work under 
the direct control of an “ Imperial Water-power Board ” or 
“ Conservation Commission.” 
(4.) That the Government take steps to initiate the formation of such 
an Imperial Water-power Board or Imperial Conservation Com¬ 
mission, to include a representative from each of the Dominions 
and dependencies. 
(5.) That this Board act in an advisory capacity. It should decide on the 
sequence of such investigation work as comes under its purview. 
It is suggested that all schemes for the development of which 
local resources are inadequate should be submitted to the Board 
by the Governments concerned, and that the Board should make 
recommendations on which the Imperial Government might take 
action. Such a Board would be able to take a broad and com¬ 
prehensive view of the advantages to the Empire as a whole, 
attending the development of any given scheme, and would 
be able to form a reasonable decision as to the relative advantages 
of such different schemes as might be brought forward from 
different parts of the Empire. 
(6.) That, since it is unlikely that private capital will be available for 
many years for hydraulic development on any large scale, powers 
should be obtained to enable the State to assist or to undertake 
such development if thought advisable. It is suggested that 
much might be done to attract private capital if the State, after 
careful investigation, were to guarantee a suitable minimum 
interest on the necessary capital, sharing at the same time in any 
profits beyond the ^amount necessary to provide that interest. 
By this method of assistance private enterprise would be untram¬ 
melled, and the management of the concerns so assisted would 
remain in private hands. p p 
Agricultural Research in Australia. Bulletin No. 7 of the Commonwealth 
of Australia Advisory Council of Science and Industry , Melbourne. 
1918. 
This bulletin is the official report of the proceedings at a conference of 
agricultural scientists held in Melbourne last November under the auspices 
of the Advisory Council. It arose, as Professor D. Orme Masson explained 
