SYDNEY'S WATER SHORTAGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1923, Page 4

SYDNEY'S WATER SHORTAGE.

SYDNEY, .March 30. The re;'.lit v ..I' the abnormal conditions Dull line" prevailed 1 hrnugh mi He pve -"lit summer iu.s at length been brought home to the people of Sviln ■> l.i He Water Hoard's drastic slop in prohibit nip garden hoses'. Even with the constant U'C of these suburban llov. er and vegetable gar. lens have sul--1 mV;I w. "fuliy, but they have siistain..l a pveeavi.nl- exist.-m-e. But no.v the re.vilt -eal fel l'd storm lain, wbieli yielded up to about (wo Inches in part', but wbieli did nut add a drop to the city reservoirs, has pa-s.-ii away, si that Ibe Water Board's e.liei means that unless a speedy change in the weal her comes the gardens are .loomed. <)i . oiirso a bowl <n indignation lias gone up from Sydney siders. and the Board is being eritieis.'d right ami left for having railed to be prepared for su.ii an I'liiorgoiiey as tile I o bo'A I bat u has been a \id ini m" a process of ,"man.-ial starvation by .successive f ..ii''l'nmciitwbieli have tailed to provide the loan money required to keep pace with the rapidly in.'rousing r.'unir. monts. A i "servoir which, iinl' i- tlie Board's programme, should have Ice.i completed three years ago, is still unfinished. The plight oi market gardeners D serious, and unless miiiic ieiuxnti.ni in the restrictions in their favour is made by the Board tlie ill e.fleet s will be shared by the public g. iii-rally, who will be faced with a shortage'-of vegetables, end have to pay exborbitantlv lor those available. Representations on ilioir behalf so far have failed to move the Board, which takes the view its iirsi function is to preserve a supply for consiiuipt ion and domestic purpose*, and that it "'as never intended that it should irrigate Sydney gardens in time ef drought. To allay popular discontent the Aiinister for Works has announced legislation for next session to leconstruot the Mater Board.

The country districts are feeling the effects ol the prolonged dry weather grievously. In some parts graziers have sold out their stock, disgusted at the long period of lean years that have alllieted them, and moved thell animals while they are able. The scattered rains recently were a veritable godsend, but they were only a drop in a bucket compared with requirements. Hundreds of water-trains are being run by the Railway Commissioners. In many country towns as much as hulf-a—Town per 100 gallons—as at Trangie, for instance —is being paid for water, and at least 10s a week is required for a family's bare requirements.

An encouraging report indicating the marvellous recuperative capacities of the far western areas comes from Olive Downs Station, about 230 miles from Broken Hill. A spell of nearly two years without a drop of rain left it as bare as an egg, and the Mitchell grass, a fine feed, just as good dry a* green, was swept away. Rain which fell there in February. however, ha* produced a wonderful crop of it. over 300,000 acres being covered to a height of about 2ft (fin. 7iTr Thompson, of Grassmere Station, Wileannia, who lias just returned from a visit to Olive Downs, says the revival is simply miraculous, as it was believed that the Mitchell grass had gone for ever.