DARWIN INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 144, 13 March 1920, Page 7

DARWIN INQUIRY

CONDITIONS IN. CHINESE QUARTER Melbourne, March, 12... Before the Northern . Territory-' Commission, : Mr. Mahon, fbrmoi'ly -Minister for External Affaire,'gave evidence'that Dr. Gilruth was a strong man,, but was rather impetuous, and liked his own way.. 'When Mr.. Mahon entered olfico. he was "biased against Dr. Gilruth, but, under experience he regarded him as a very good officer. ; Mr. Morley submitted that tho 'cause of . the Administrator's, unpopularity-, was hi* desire, to carry out Sanitary reforms which the. people resisted.. ; l)r. Holmes described tho Chinese quarter in Darwin, aa worse than the black quarters of Cape Town. The- housing conditions-were so doplorablo' that 30 pcr cent, of the Chinese death : iate was duo to tuberculosis. All the, conditione.. wore such as to bring tho diseases.of fhe-.East within' reach of Darwin. The .town become overrun with-the yellow fever mosquito, and disaster was a' "weekly possibility. Eventually, ,in ; default of -tho local "authority taking action, the Administrator demolished the hovels, covered the drinking wells, and repatriated ft number of tho Chinese. The mosquito then disappeared.—Press Assn. ; (ffec. March-12, 11.5 p.m.)' .' Melbourne, March 12. Dr. Holmes continued his evidence regarding the bad sanitary conditiono :n Darwin, and detailed substantial improve; ments carred. out .by Dr. Gilruth. •: The inquiry • has been, adjourned to. March 22—Pr?ss Assn.. ''