PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
6
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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The Chairman-We know that when a woman is gaining a livelihood by this means she is more liable to communicate disease than, probably, the man is. I quite see that if we could, by any possible means, bring the men who are diseased under the opera- tion of the Act it would be a very good thing. But how would you do it? Can you suggest anything of the kind, any process by which the men could be subjected to the same provisions as the women?
Turning to No. 7, the Chairman said he did not know exactly what was meant.
That refers to males.
The Chairman-So far as I understand you, you warmly approve of the efforts made by the doctors, Dr. Mugliston, Dr. Rogers, and Mr. Wispauer, to cure these women?
If it tends towards the women leading a moral life. If it is simply preparing her for further prostitution then I don't think it can be commended.
The Chairman-But how is the doctor to exercise any discrimination? I want you to tell us, Mr. Shellabear, why, if you approve of what private practitioners do in a small way, you should disapprove of Government doing it on a large and efficient scale.
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In the case of Government, mainly on account of the moral effect which it produces on the general public, in inciting them to debauchery by giving them the idea that it
is a thing in which they can safely indulge, that it is a thing recognised by the Govern- ment, and one in which there is nothing wrong in indulging.
Mr. Evans-Do you think a Chinese coolie is ever deterred from going to any place because the Act has been repealed?
Certainly,
The Chairman-To put what you said in another way, you are afraid that exami- nation and cure would be too effective-that there would not be sufficient punishment for unchastity?
No, not at all, because I thoroughly and firmly believe that the Acts have not the power to accomplish what they are intended to do. I fail to see why Singapore should be different to all other parts of the world. If it is true that in India disease actually increased during the time the Act was in force and has been stationary since, if it is true that in England the disease also increased during the operation of the Act and has since decreased, how should it be different in Singapore?
Mr. Evans -You must know that it is extremely difficult to get reliable informa- tion after the Act has ceased, and it may be that when people say that disease has decreased since the abolition of the Act they are speaking without information.
In England you can tell by the recruiting returns.
Mr. Evans-On the other hand, the hospital admissions here and the experience
of private practitioners shows an enormous increase.
Are they figures that can be absolutely relied upon?
Mr. Evans Certainly they are.
Might not that be because there are more people going to private practitioners than there used to be?
Mr. Evans I was speaking of males.
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It should also be borne in mind that the European population of Singapore has in- creased greatly of late. I should say it has nearly doubled within the last five years.
The Chairman-Can you suggest any means other than the C.D. Act by which something can be done to check the spread of venereal disease?
I think you must go further back and touch the importation of women for immoral purposes. The reports of the Protectorate in past years have stated that the importa. tion each year is about 50 per cent. of the number of prostitutes; therefore in two years you will have covered the whole staff of prostitutes, if you can do anything to improve the state of affairs amongst the prostitutes who are imported.
Mr. Evans-They must be compulsorily prevented from prostituting?
No, you say that the women who come here are not free agents; if they were free agents they would not prostitute.
Mr. Evans--A large number of them.
That being the case, if you could by any means prevent their being imported other-
wise than as free agents you would soon stop the thing.
The Chairman-Would you count the love of gain a motive in free agency?
If a person elects of her own free will to live a life of prostitution I call that free
agency.
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Although pressure may be put upon her by her relations to support them by her earnings?
That, of course, would be exceedingly difficult to grapple with.
The Chairman-Do you approve of lock hospitals?
I approve of lock hospitals if they are for the purpose of keeping women out of the brothels; if they are for the purpose of turning them back to prostitution I do not approve of them.
here?
You are assuming that you can prevent them going back to a life of prostitution. You can do something to prevent it; a very great deal could be done.
The Chairman-You can suggest nothing else than restraining the women arriving
As regards the soldiers, I think a great deal could be done. I think that to deal with the number of women would reduce the disease.
Would that be an advantage?
I know that the advocates of the C.D. Act contend that the larger the number of women the less the disease.
The Chairman then asked the witness whether reducing the number of women would not lead to other and worse, because unnatural, forms of vice, instancing the experience of the planters in Java.
It seems to me more horrible for wicked men to ruin innocent young girls than that wicked men should ruin each other.
Do you think there is any strong opinion against the C.D. Acts in Singapore? No, I think there is no strong opinion against it. No doubt ladies, in some in- stances, were opposed to it, but their husbands were not willing that they should know anything of the matter. Amongst the prostitutes there was a feeling against com- pulsory inspection.
On what do you form the opinion that the prostitutes are opposed to inspection? I form that opinion on conversations which ladies have had with the native
Women.
The Chairman-But if the brothel-keepers took the same view of the effect of the C.D.O. as you do, that it creates a real or imaginary sense of security, they would rather welcome it; it would mean more custom.
If they were far-sighted they might, but they look to their own immediate profits. Do you consider it wrong to cure a prostitute?
pre-
No, the Government is quite right in maintaining hospitals to cure women who go
of purpose there voluntarily, but I think it wrong to do so compulsorily or for the paring them for further prostitution. I wish you to understand that my view, though it may seem somewhat illogical, is based on what I believe to be the ultimate result of such action on the part of Government. I believe such action would ultimately lead to more disease and, further, to the moral degradation of the people. The idea that there is safety in such a course will produce more prostitutes, and as you increase the prostitutes you increase the disease."
The Chairman-Have you any knowledge of any of the abuses of the system here? I have heard statements made with regard to abuses which have taken place here, that the brothel-keepers have been threatened that if the women were not sent to be ex- amined they would be locked up in the rescue home.
Mr. Evans-That is a very venial offence.
Dr. Simon-That is since the abolition of the C.D.O.
during the operation of the Act?
I have no knowledge of any.
F.
Have you heard of any
ANSWERS to some of the questions by Dr. W. G. ELLIS, Medical Superintendent, Lunatic
6.
Asylum and Police Surgeon.
What forms of disease do you most commonly meet? Tertiary, in the form of brain syphilis.
10. Over what period has your experience of venereal disease in Singapore ex- tended?
1
The last ten years.
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