Decision to Form Singapore Council.
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His Excellency the Governor (Str Laurence Guillemard, E.C.B.), in junction with the N.C.C.V.D. Commis- sioners, convened a meeting of officials and representative people at Government House on Wednesday to consider the desirability of forming a Singapore Council for combating venereal disease. A number of heads of departments, medi- cal men and others were prezent.
His Excellency beriefly introduced the two speakers, Kre. C. Neville 10.B.E., and Dr. Rupert Hallam, who then Rolfe, addressed the meeting.
Mrs. Rolfe described the organization and work of the National Council and went on to urge that a Singapore Council should be established, linked up with the organi- sation at home. The aims and objects would be similer.
Besides considering the formation of a local Council she would also urge their considering an enquiry quite separate from anything to do with the formation of a local Council into such social condi- tions as lead to an artificial stimulus of the demand for promiscuity, such steps as might be taken to reduce the dangers that come from too much advertising of opportunities for exposure to infection, That can only be a matter for very care- ful enquiry for those responsible for the well-being of the community, but per- sonally she was convinced that such an enquiry would lead to certain practical measures being adopted. She felt that this should be kept quite distinct from the public health work of providing free facilities for treatment of V. D. and the undertaking of a campaign of public enlightnment.
Dr. Hallam spoke supporting the for- mation of a local Council for Combating Venereal Diseases. He felt that as be had only been a member of the Council for a few months he might bear record as to the excellent work they had car- ried out at home, He stated that though, for six years, during the War, there had been an extraordinary rise in the incidence of the disease: he was glad to say
that during the last year the number of peo- ple coming up for treatment had begun to fall; he himself attributed this the provision af facilities for free diag-| nosis and treatment by the Government and the campaign of public enitghten- ment carried out by the Council up and down the country.
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His Excellency stated that the airs and objects of the Council semed to be in common with everybody interested in: this subject, and made for any purpose.! He moved that a Council for Combating | Venereal Diseases should be founded in! Singapore. He himself and Lady Guille- mard would be willing to act as Pre- sidenta. Steps would be taken to appoint Vice-Presidente and to nominate a Council fully representative of every interest in the town. Dr. Dexter Allen and Captain Hacker, R.A.M.C., would act! as temporary Honorary Secretaries.
The resolution was seconded by Dr. Lim Boon Keng, O.B.E., and carried un- animously.
The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the speakers.
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