CID E.
1. Sir J. Northcote
Desires observations on advertisement
14.4.38
2
x
p.62 on
1938 estimates.
From
Mr.McDougall.
It appears to me that the answer to this defends question beams very largely on the exact status of
the Health Centre concerned, and I fear that on
this point I have been unable to trace any precise
information. In the report of the Medical
Department, the Health Centre comes under the
Section headed "Government Infant Welfare Centres"
while in the estimates provision was made for 3
coolies and a boy under this Head, and it is possible
that an allowance was made to the Centre under
Head XXII Sub-Head 21 (Infant Welfare Centre).
?
At the same time it does not appear that the Centre
is a purely Government institution, but rather a
private one, which receives assistance from the
Government. I understand also that Government
doctors attend at the Centre.
If, therefore, it is an unofficial
organisation, it appears to me that it is no
concern of the Colonial Government whether or not
the Eugenics League advertise that advice is given
on birth control there or not. If, however, it is
considered that Government aid to the institution
involves them in some responsibility for its
advertisements, then I think that not only the
propriety of the advertisement but of the institution
being used at all by the Eugenics League would have
to be raised. It appears that in any case the
used
Centre is being) by the League, and my own feeling
is that the Government should raise no objection to
their advertisement, i.e., not even omitting the
last few words, as proposed by Sir G. Northcote.
It