TROPICAL AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1922, Page 5

TROPICAL AUSTRALIA.

HEALTH MAINTAINED. FOR WHITE PEOPLE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, May 11. Giving evidence before the Commonwealth Works Committee, Professor Priestly declared, from several years’ personal experience, that there was no evidence of deterioration in health through living in a tropical climate in Australia. Investigations, particularly with children from seven to fourteen years of age, yielded no evidence of physical deterioration. Five hundred who were examined compared favorably with those from any other part of Australia. There was generally a pallor of the complexion, but it was thought this was only skin-deep. It was a myth that residence in the tropics caused the blood to become thin. It hot countries the tendency was for the blood to get away from the skin, and perspiration might cause a slight thickening. There was no doubt that, particularly among women, the skin became much coarser in the tropics. Professor Priestly added that women living in the tropics had an extremely hard time owing to domestic disabilities. Children examined up to the third generation showed no deterioration. There was an absence in Australia of nearly all the tropical diseases found in other countries. Received May 11, 11.30 p.m. Sydney, May 11. Giving evidence before the Federal Works Committee, Professor Griffith Taylor dieagreed with Professor Priestly as to the suitability of the Northern Territory for children. He thought it would be well to compromise on the color question and admit Indians or Chinese for domestic service, otherwise they would never get white women to go there.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.