AUSTRALIA'S SOCIAL SERVICES.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 67, 6 April 1937, Page 4

AUSTRALIA'S SOCIAL SERVICES.

"Australia leads the world in her provisions for economic disabilities," aaid Mr. Porter Lee, director of the New York School of Social Work, who is visiting the Comraonwealth under a graut from the Oarnegie Corporation, in the course of au interview with the Sydney Morning Herald. * "There are many great social works in Australia," he said. "Oue of the greatest is the supervision of babies from birth. This service is b,ased on the assumption that if a baby is born well and norma!, it should be kept vfcell and normal by an organised programme of supervision. But what is overlopked is the emotional and character develop-.. ment, and the relations of child to parents and ehild to school. As much care is needed for that side as for the health side." Mr. Lee said that he had been very impressed by the playground movement in New South Wales. This appeared to be developing very rapidly t He noted that in Australia the same trouble existed in regard to relief work as in America. This was that Gpvernments were running out of ideas for relief works. Mr. Lee'a outstanding general impressions of Australia were the great frieudliness of the people; the cost of clothes; the apparent low rents as compared with America; and the difficulty of obtaining highclass raw fruit, although it is grown in the country. "I have never seen a healthier people than the Australians," he added. "Your slums are worse than they should be, but do not compare with London or New York. Sydney is teeming with life, and the development of sports is inspiring. The people seem to be absorbed in politics, but there seems to be very little long-range plauning amoug politicians. "You lack free libraries, but you should not be criticised for that," Mr. Lee said. "I think that Australia has been too busy and alive to think about many thiugs which add to the enrichment of lifo. It will all copie in time."