CO129-472 - Others - 1921 — Page 445

SINGAPORE

-5

CONFIDENTIAL

442

Facilities for Free Diagnosis and Treatment (contd.)

The result was that, even at the Chinese Hospital where three wards were entirely devoted to Venereal orses, no bacteriological work was undertaken because the cost could not be met. One point which may lead to some difficulty is that the Government Bacteriologist, who does auch free work as has been undertaken hitherto, had in addition carried on a very extensive and lucrative practice in testing specimens for private practitioners. The provision of free diagnosis facilities on the part of the Government will, of course, remove this portion of the Government Bacteriologist's practice; some opposition may therefore develop to free diagnosis for patients of private practitioners. We believe, however, that it is important that free diagnosia should be available as from information received the incidence of disease is high, especially among the young members of the British community, who are by no means well-to-do, and in many cases are unable to afford the modern methods of treatment under present conditions.

As the result of various conferences an international free clinic and auxiliary early treatment clinic are to be opened at the Docks, Tanjong Pagar, as soon as possible. Notices of its existence will be properly distributed to incoming ships and notified to other Ports.

MERCANTILE MARINE.

Before the Conference of Port and Municipal Authorities on the 25th (Appendix 2: see verbatim report) we had taken the opportunity of visiting all the accommodation available for officers and men of the Mercantile Marine. The condition of the Sailors' Home is bad. The Committee intend to rebuild it, but at present it is of little use and it does not in any way cater for the passing seafarer. The Boustead Institute, with certain alterations, has possibilities of useful development. The Holt Line provide excellent accommodation for their officers in the form of a mese bungalow.

The question of recreation and accommodation was raised at the Port Conference. Housing accommoda- tion is inadequate throughout the Colony, and it is improbable that anything effective will be done in the direction of hostel accommodation. The absence of recreation was acknowledged, and it was agreed that a recreation ground on Harbour Board land should be made available for the use of the Mercantile Marine, and that much more might be done to mobilize existing facilities. A Committee of five were appointed with power to co- operate:-

The Acting President of the Municipal Council.

The Chairman of the Harbour Board.

The Port Medical Officer.

The Physical Director of the Y.M.0.A.

The President of the Cricket Club,

with

Captain Hacker, R. A.M.C., as Honorary Secretary.