43
Enclos.1 2.
5.
I had been warned beforehand that opposition
to the Aberdeen Schiene was probable, but I was quite
unprepared for the strength and unanimity of that
opposition.
Committee in
I discussed the views of the Public Works
ecutive Council and as the Honourable Mr.
A. C. Hynes, who is a member of both the Public Works
Committee and the Executive Council, thought the Committee
would be prepared to consider the matter again in the light
of further figures, for which he asked, and as the
Honourable Ir. J. Owen Hughes, also a member of both Council
and Comittee, was due back froi leave shortly, it was
decided to refer the matter again to the Public Works
Committee for further consideration. The Committee met
again on 26th July, but their deliberations only served to
confirm and strengthen them in the decision already arrived
at. I enclose copies of the reports of the two meetings
of the Public Works Committee from the latter of which it
will be seen that the Honourable Dr. Koberall alone was in
favour of the concurrent construction of the Abordeen
Scheme. Knowing that Sir Cecil Clementi's views strongly favoured the prior construction of the Aberdeen Scheme and
feeling that the opposition to tlis scheme would be a
matter of considerable surprise and regret to him, I
reported the position to you by telegram on 1st August, suggesting that the matter should be discussed with Sir
Cecil and I now avait your decision.
6.
The position has been complicated by the peculiarities of the rainfall this year. At first adequate,
but uneven in its distribution, the rainfall average has
not been maintained in the last few weeks. At the same
time consumption has increased and we are now faced with
the