§ 35. Sir William Davisonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the urgent need for the formation of dams or reservoirs in Cyprus to store the heavy winter rains for the irrigation of the great agricultural plain during the six dry summer months; and whether steps will be taken as soon as possible to deal with this urgent matter?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreI fully share my hon. Friend's opinion of the importance of water supplies to Cyprus. Technical investigation has already been made, and last year a grant of 30,000 from the Colonial Development Fund was approved, which will enable an engineer to carry out further investigations as to the best means of developing water supplies. There are great difficulties about the method of using dams and reservoirs, but the present investigation will show whether any development in that direction is in fact feasible.
§ Mr. PetherickCan my right hon. Friend say when the investigation will be completed and when he will be likely to get his report from the engineer?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreHe is there now. So many of the mountains in that part of the world consist of porous strata and will not hold water.