AUSTRALIA HOUSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21102, 12 August 1930, Page 9

AUSTRALIA HOUSE

COSTLY ESTABLISHMENT. LONDON, July 28. Australia House is on its toes and is likely to remain there until Mr Coleman,M.P., completes his report for Mr Scullin to pick up at Colombo, oh his way to London. Mr Coleman has found his task very complex, owing to the existing duplication and overlapping which have been partly responsible for the cost of Australia 'House “ contingencies " sometimes approaching the expenditure for which provision has been made: ' The, actual -running . cost of Australia House has risen from £24,000 in 1913 to £130,000, apart from interest on cost. Australia House and the Agenciesgeneral cost £250,000 a year. , Australia House costs £185,000, which amount includes the interest on the £1,000,000 capital cost of the land ahd building. Against the interest has to be balanced rents, amounting to £24,000, leaving a net cost of £161,000. The Agehcies-gcneral cost about £60,000. ‘ The cost of Australia House excludes the cost of the trade publicity campaign, apart from actual salaries, and excludes also the Commonwealth expenses of semidetached boards, which cost £15,000 a year. ' There is a feeling among officials that Mr Scullin is keen on bringing more fully under the control of the High Commissioher the detached and semi-detached activities which have grown up inside and outside Australia House.