Real Climate Records

May Awaken Australia To Need For Action

CANBERRA, Mon.— The Canadian High Commissioner, Mr. Justice Davis, said to-day that he was sure the current drought scourge in Australia would hasten as it did in Canada, a successful campaign against drought.

Mr. Davis has just returned from a week’s visit to the Riverina “In Western Canada we learned by intelligent methods of planning that many drought difficulties can be overcome. Conditions there for irrigation and conservation are not as friendly as in Australia, where the flow of river water and the topography of the land lend themselves to projects such as that of the Murrumbidgee.

“My inspection of the drought stricken areas filled me with alarm and distress. Western Canada required the shock of drought to waken it to the need for far-reaching measures for water conservation,” he said.

Canberra to-day was covered by red dust carried by a strong wind from the north-west.

On Thursday morning in a program of documentary films to be screened for members of the

Federal Parliament, is one entitled “Soil Erosion and Current Drought.

GOVERNMENT VIEW.

The Minister for Commerce, Mr. Scully,” said to-night that he estimated that £25,000,000 would be needed for water conservation and irrigation schemes for the eastern areas of Australia. The New South Wales Government was working out a huge water conservation scheme as a post-war work, and he felt confident that the Commonwealth Government would assist it and similar plans which other States put

up.

Any form of post-war rural development was absolutely worthless unless it was preceded by a proper water conservation scheme for the inland areas of

Australia. Mr. Scully considered Mr. Justice Davis’ examination of the drought position sound, and his suggestions excellent.