NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10415, 5 June 1925, Page 6

NORTHERN AUSTRALIA

FRANK COMMENT ON CONDITIONS QUESTION OF WHITE LABOUR. (Per P' ss Association—Copyright.) SYDNEY, June 3. Sir ■ George Buchanan, who recently toured Queensland and the Northern Territory, preparatory to reporting upon the harbours of Australia, has been unfavourably impressed by the conditions under which the white population is living. He declares that white labour in the north is not as efficient as black labour in other countries. Sir George Buchanan attributes this to unhygienic conditions and unsuitable diet. He suggests that the remedy lies in freeing Northern Australia from party politics, and favours a scheme of development which would cover a period of years. He considers that the "White Australia" policy is an ideal deserving of the greatest encouragement, but in the north it proves neither efficient nor economic. This, he contends, is largely attributable to the insanitary life led by the people. The position of women, particularly, is deplorable. " What Australia is aiming at cannot lie achieved without the help of healthy, happy women. Under present conditions it is impossible successfully to settle the country or grow cotton or sugar to compote with the outside world. The only remedy is the education of the people in tropical hygiene and feeding, and Government insistence upon suitable housing.''