"A verse" joke

It was a verse published in the Sunday Times (London) in 1978. Readers may find it amusing.
Minister of Drought
Began to go about
Extolling every means of saving water;
To husband what we had
A garden rose was bad,
Or flushing lavatories when we didn't oughter.
"Let every flower die!"
Became his battle cry.
"Thrice use your washing water and suds."
He kept this up for weeks
Although a lot of Sikhs
Prayed for rain precipitating floods.