198 was good, their words being "To the eye of the ordinary resident in Colombo nothing exists which is in the nature of an affront to public decency, or can be described as a public scandal. There is nothing in the aspect of the city or the life of its streets or public places to call for comment",
Dr. Galloway went home directly after having published his paper. He happened to have chosen the same ship on which to go home as Sir Laurance Guillemard, our Governor, who was going on six months' furlough. Soon after he came back the question was again brought up and a body called the "Straits Settlements Association" called a meeting to discuss the question of V.L. Dr. Galloway and I were chosen to represent different sides. The resolution drawn was that the Government should be asked to appoint a Commission to enquire into the extent of V.L. and what methods should be taken to combat it. Dr. Galloway at once moved an amendment to the effect that 'this meeting urges the return to the C.D. Ordinances' (I cannot quote the exact words). I opposed the amendment but was in favour of the resolution apart from the amendment going through. Dr. Galloway withdrew his amendment and I voted for the original resolution. A committee of 5 doctors, with a Civil Servant as president, was appointed. The Straits Settlements Association was to nominate 2, the Government 2, and the Singapore municipality 1. The S.S. Association nominated Dr. Galloway and a certain Dr. Rattray who is a prominent doctor in this particular line of medical practice. The Government nominated a certain Dr. Finlayson who is a bacteriologist and undoubtedly an able man, and Dr. O'way, a doctor in charge of the female pauper hospital, who has over ten years' experience in this country. She happened to be ill for part of the meetings. The fifth doctor was Dr. Hunter, the head doctor of the municipality, who from his memorandum in which he drew special attention to the rise in V.L. which occurred after certain European houses were closed in Hylam Street, seems to be in favour of Regulation before the Committee ever met. Dr. Galloway was of course a pronounced advocate of it; Rattray, before the Committee had finished their sittings, that is, within six weeks of their beginning, got out a most elaborate scheme for dealing with the matter, which obviously must have been in his mind a long time before. There is nothing to show what Dr. Finlayson's ideas were, and I have mentioned that Dr. O'way was ill for a good many of the sittings. Under those circumstances she was almost bound to sign the recommendations of the Committee. The Committee therefore consisted of a majority apparently in favour of regulation, and there was nobody on it who represented the other side.
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The first meeting of the Committee was held on Monday, January 29th, all the members were present. The minutes read as follows:-
"It was decided that each member should consider what witnesses he would desire to have called. It was considered not practicable to invite attendances of witnesses by advertisement. The object of the Committee is to obtain expert advice of a special nature. It was decided that the members of the Committee should submit before the 12th Feb. to the Chairman a list of those witnesses whom they desire to call, making a note against the name of any individual who might be unwilling to give evidence". Returns were to be asked for.
There is nothing in those minutes to prevent anyone who is not a doctor giving evidence. Dr. O'way asked by wife if
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198
was good, their words being "To the eye of the ordinary resident in Colombo nothing exists which is in the nature of an affront to public decency, or can be described as a public scandal. There is nothing in the appect of the city or the life of ite atr ete or public places to call for comment",
Dr.Galloway went home directly after having published his paper. He happended to have chosen the same ship on which to go home as Sir Laurance Guilleard, our Governor, who was going on six months' furlough. Soon after he came back the question was again brought up and a body called the "Straits Settlements Association" called a meeting to discuss the question of V.L. Dr.Galloway and I were cho en to represert different sides. The resolution down as that the Government should be asked to appoint a Co mission to enquire into the extent of V.L. and what methods should be teken to combat it, Dr.Galloway at once moved an amendment to the effect that 'this meeting urges the return to the C.D.Ordinances' (I cannot quote the exact worda). I opposed the amendment but was in favour of the resolution apart from the amendment going through. Dr.Galloway withdrew his emendment end I voted for the orginal resolution. A committee of 5 doctors, with a Civil Servant as resident, was appointed. The Straite Settlements Association wes to nominate 2, the Gov Fruent 2, and the Singapore unicipality 1. The S. .A¬socistion nozinsted Dr.Galloway and a certain Dr.Rattray who is a prominent doctor in t is particular line of medical preatice. The Goverment nominated a certain Dr.Finlayson who is a bacteriologist and undoubtedly an able man, and re.0*way, a doctor in dha ge of the female pauper hospital, who hɛe over ten yoar's experience in this country. She happended to be ill for part of the meetings. The fifth doctor wɛs Dr.Hunter, the head dootor of the municipality, who from his memorandum in which he drew special attention to the rise in V.L. which occurred after certain European houses were closed in alay Street, seeme to be in favour of Regulation before the Committee ever met. Dr. Galloway was of course a pronounced advocate of it; Rattray, before the Committee had finished their sittings, that is, whithin six weeks of their beginning, got out a most elaborate scheme for dealing with the matter, which obviously must have been in his mind a long time before. There is nothing to show what Lr. Finlayson's ideas were, and I have mentioned that Dr.O'lay was ill for a good many of the sittings. Under those circumstances she we almost bound to sign the recomendations of the Committee. The Committee therefore consisted of a majority apparently in favour of eg lation, and there was nobody on it who represented the other side.
br.
The first meeting of the Comittee was held on Monday, January 29th, all the members were present. The minutes read as follows :-
"It we decided that each member should consider what witnesses he would desire to have called. It was considered not preoticable to invite attendancos of witnesses by advertisement. The object of the Committee is to obtain expert advice of a special nature. It was decided that
the members of the Committee should submit before the 12th Feb. to the Chairman a list of those witnesses whom they desire to call, making a note against the name of any individual
And various who might be unwilling to give evidence". returns were to be asked for.
here is nothing in those inutes to prevent anyone who is not a doctor giving evidence. Dr.0 hay asked by wife if
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