COMMENTS

The developments recently announced create a new prospect for medical research and medical research workers in Australia. The National Health and Medical Research Council intends to explore the possibility of supporting research in clinical units not necessarily part of teaching hospitals (although it is to be hoped and expected that most will be so situated). Fortunately the structure and situation of these units seem to be the subject of careful consideration and planning. On the other hand, the subjects on which they may work have been announced, including cardiovascular disease, renal infections, arthritis, psychiatric illness, and pharmacology relevant to bronchitis and asthma. And even in the preliminary announcement the term "contractural research" is used with reference to their work. The customer-contractor principle as applied to governmental departments (as customers) and research workers or units (as contractors) still has a sinister ring for many ears. It suggests inspiration-to-order and sacrifice of the freedom of research workers to the wishes of customers not well enough informed even to define their wants. Much of this stems from the immoderate advocacy of the principle by Rothschild in a British Government green paper." It provoked a fierce response from many responsible critics. The customer-contractor relationship