hough aborigines were starting to speak up about their rights they still had few in the 1930s. From the Report and Recommendation of the Public Services of New South Wales, aborigines were said to have all citizen rights except the majority of basic human rights. They were not allowed a federal vote, to purchase liquor and did not receive maternity allowance or old age or invalid pensions if aboriginal blood was predominating. Also, residents on stations were not allowed to take relief work from the Government and family endowments were mainly paid in goods rather than cash. In addition to this lack of rights, the report also stated that there were other certain restrictions imposed on Aborigines in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Social reform was so slow in happening that a majority of Aboriginals were still living on reserves or Missions and in malnutrition still. Malnutrition and disease continued to play havoc with Aboriginal health as the twentieth century wore on Government and station rations were often inadequate. Flour, sugar and tea were the basic rations The absence of protein foods, affected Aboriginal health and contributed to high infant mortality. Damp clothing and poor housing brought further suffering. Disease, especially tuberculosis, remained widespread and often fatal. But by 1937 there were some signs of change [Missions and reserves] were established with much greater respect for Aboriginal language and culture, and sought to advance the employment, health and integrity of the local groups by those who supported the Aboriginal Rights Movement. The conditions in which Aborigines lived was starting to vary, having a good end as well as a bad. In 1938, the prejudice and insensitivity of non-aborigines towards aboriginal people was shown publicly to be very much still strong in society. On the 26th of January 1938 a re-enactment or the founding of Australia was organised in celebration of the sesquicente...
