The Government and Water The new Water Supplies Bill is
a wise and necessary emergency measure which has nothing whatever to do with the more general issue of permanently improving the normal water supplies of the country. Towards the latter object the Government has already contributed a small instalment of reform in passing the Rural Water act. The object of the new Bill is to facilitate and quicken action which may have to be taken in emergencies in the near future if the abnormal shortage of water continues. The situation that has arisen is a very rare one in this country. A dry summer has been followed by a dry winter ; the big underground reserves have not been replenished by adequate winter rains ; and unless there is exceptionally heavy rain during the present month the position will be serious in the summer. Under the Bill Orders may be issued by the Minister of Health limiting the restrictions on water authorities, facilitating the transfer of' supplies from one undertaker to another, or granting special powers to undertakers to procure new supplies. The purpose of the Bill is to free the hand of the Minister in authorizing swift action to meet a crisis—if it occurs. If the Government had supreme control of the clouds—as sonic critics appear to assume— this temporary measure, of course, would not be necessary,
