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2. By section 2 the Governor in Council may appoint places to be leper settlements. The former provision in section 2 of Ordinance No. 24 of 1910 forbidding private asylums has not been re-enacted as it is intended to entrust the management of leper settlements to suitable missionary or philanthropic bodies.
3. Section 3 enables the Governor in Council to make regulations for the better carrying out of the provisions of the Ordinance, and for the well-being of the leper settle- ments and the inmates thereof.
4. This Ordinance does not expressly make leprosy a notifiable disease as sufficient provision for that purpose is made by the powers conferred on the Governor in Council by section 8 (2) (b) of the Public Health (Quarantine and Prevention of Disease) Ordinance No. 12 of 1935 which is to be brought into force shortly by Proclamation. Under section 2 of that Ordinance leprosy is included in the definition of "disease".
5. Section 4 deals with inquiries into cases of alleged leprosy.
6. Section 5 deals with segregation in cases where the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services deems it necessary. It is now realised that segregation is not essential in all cases of leprosy which by modern methods of treatment may be cured at an early stage and mitigated at all stages.
7. Section 6 provides that when lepers are detained in the settlements they shall not leave without the written permission of the officer in charge.
8. Section 7 controls alien leper immigration.
9. Section 8 deals with the appointment of Justices of the Peace as visitors of leper settlements.
10. A Table of Correspondence between the new and the repealed Ordinance is attached.
11. Viewed generally the new Ordinance gets away from the idea that a leper settlement or asylum is to be regarded as a prison and regards it instead as a centre for treatment and as a retreat for severe cases or those who are deserted by their relatives. Magisterial powers are not given to the persons in charge of the settlements as it is considered safe for leper offenders to be brought before ordinary tribunals, Should it be found necessary, in any particular case where isolation is necessary, to impose a term of imprisonment arrangements can now be made for such isolation in prison.
April, 1935.
C. G. ALABASTER,
Attorney General.