AUSTRALIAN HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17247, 10 September 1921, Page 14

AUSTRALIAN HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

"All dressed up and nothing to do»" is the expression which is being applied to the Federal Department of Publio Health. When the Quarantine Department was widened into the Federal Health Department some months ago an agreement was entered into with, the International Health Bureau of the Rockefeller Foundation to accept its assistance in a health campaign , which the new Department was to conduct. So far as the Australian Government is concerned, this agreement has not been carried out, and no indication has been given as to when it will. Last year provision waa made in the Estimates for an expenditure of £94,695 on quarantine service, and it is understood that to- provide for the extension of the operations under the agreement with the International Health Bureau a sum in the vicinity of £160,000 wag set down as the estimate for this year. It was also said that Sir Joaeph Coos has refused to provide within £50,000 of this sum unless he is first instructed to do so by Parliament. I The Commonwealth is, therefore,' faced with the problem of having entered into an agreement, its share of which it now finds it difficult to finance, and it must either break faith with the bureau or go on with what it started. ! Shortly there will be three experts in Australia from the Rockefeller Insti-, tute who will hare nothing to work on. •• Dr. Lanza is already here. Another expert is on his way, and tho tKird if? due early in the New Year.