UNHYGIENIC LIFE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18399, 4 June 1925, Page 9

UNHYGIENIC LIFE.

IN NORTHERN TERRITORY. BRITISH ENGINEER'S REPORT. cable—r?.E?s assocutiox—cofthicikt.) (AUSTRALIAN ASD S.I. CABLE ASSOCIATION.} SYDNEY. .Tune 3. Sir George Buchanan, the noted British engineer, who recently toured Queensland and 'he Northern Territory preparatory to reporting upon the harbours or Australia, was unfavourably impressed by the conditions under which the whole population is living. He declared that white labour in the north is not so efficient as is black labour in other countries. Sir George attributes this to unhygienic conditions and unsuitable diet. He suggests that the remedy lies in freeing Northern Australia from party polities and favours a scheme of (le-, vclopment which would cover a period of years. Sir George considers the Wlrito Australia policy an ideal deserving the greatest encouragement, but as ho saw it in the north it was neither efficient nor economic. This was largely attributed to the insanitary life led by the people. The position of women particularly was deplorable. What Australia is aiming at cannot be achieved without the help of healthy, happy women. Under the present conditions it is impossible successfully to settle tho country or to grow cotton and sugar to compete with thte outside world. The only remedy is tho education of the people in tropical hygiene and feeding, and Government insistence upon suitable housing.