( 4 )
exampl e, i n st at ement II. , at t ached t o t he report from Bassei n, i t i s shown t hat 12
remained on the register at end of the year 1874, and nine were added in 1875 ; thus
21 was the maximum number that could have been on the register at any one time
in 1875 ; but, as nine were also removed in the course of the year, it does not follow that it over
reached that possible number. Yet from January to December inclusive, the numbers
represented as actually on the register range from 22 the lowest, to 26 the highest, and the
average monthly number is represented as higher than the possible maximum ! Mr. Foster,
who merely forwarded the report and returns of his predecessor, has, on being referred to,
searched the register and sent me an amended return, which is forwarded with these remarks.
I find it impossible to reconcile the report and returns of the lock-hospital at Prome
with each other, even after the explanation of the Medical Officer, whose attention was called
to the inconsistencies. In statement II. it is said that 20 names were brought on the
register during the year, which, added to 25 remaining on the 1st of January 1875, made 45
as the possible maximum. In the report it is explained that the 20 names added to the
register were brought on in the following order :—
In May
...
. . .
. . .
...
...
...
2
„ June
...
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
...
3
7 July
. . .
. . .
...
...
. . .
...
3
„ August
...
...
...
. . .
...
... 1
„ September...
...
...
. . .
. . . ...
3
„ October ...
...
...
...
...
... 5
„ November...
...
...
. . .
. . . ... 3
Total ... 20
Being unable to reconcile these figures with those in column 2, statement II., attached to the
report, and especially the number 38 in September, I requested Mr. Godbier to inform
me of the dates on which the 20 women were removed from the register, and to explain
how 38 could have been on it in the month of September, seeing there were only 32
in August, and that three only were added in September. I cannot say that his answer
is an explanation, for although he may have a clear idea of it himself, he has not
succeeded in conveying it to me. His reply is to the effect that the number (38) for Sep-
tember is correct. " Three women having returned voluntarily during the month of Sep-
tember are included in the statement." As he also says that the 20 women removed
from the register were all absentees whose names were not removed until the end of the
year, it would appear that the three women who were absentees and " returned voluntarily"
in September had never been struck off the register, and must therefore have been included
in the 32 said to be on it in August. They have, therefore, been counted twice over
in September. Mr. Godbier, however, does not seem to see this. Another peculiarity in
this return is worth notice. Although the numbers represented as being on the register in
each month are the average numbers, with two exceptions—namely, June and December—
they could only be correct on the supposition that the 20 names successively added
to the register were always brought on it on the 1st of the month, as if the Registering
Officer had made it a rule only to admit women to registration on that date. If this is a
sample of the manner in which Mr. Godbier has discharged his self-assumed duties of
Registering Officer, it will hardly justify the usurpation. It cannot be said that the registra-
tion has been satisfactory anywhere except at Rangoon. At all other stations, except
Toungoo, where there was a small increase, the numbers have either diminished or remained
stationary, and even in these last, a fictitious appearance of strength, as at Prome, is some-
-times given to the register, by allowing names to remain on it long after they should have
been struck off. At Toungoo, the average number for the year was only 11 . 39, with a mili-
tary force of 1,422 men and an estimated native population of 94,000: this number seems
ridiculously small.
At Rangoon, the Act is in force to a distance of five miles round the station. There has
been a net increase of 36 to the register, 284 having been added and 248 removed during
the year. At Moulmein and Akyab the numbers have fallen off, from 50 to 34 at the latter,
and from 85 to 68 at the former, place. The difficulty of proving unlawful prostitution
is given as the only known cause of the falling off.
VII.—No registration fees are exacted at any station except Rangoon, where one rupee
a month is levied from each registered woman while out of
hospital.
VIII.—If one could trust to the accuracy of the figures in the statement II. attached
to each report, the attendance at the periodical examinations
has been generally very good ; indeed, at Thayetmyo it would,
at first sight, appear to be absolutely perfect, the average num-
ber on the register and the average attendance each month
being exactly equal even to a fraction. However, as the monthly average of 5 .75 was con-
stantly in hospital, and 1 . 9 reported for non-attendance, there must be some mistake in the
table. At Bassein, even according to the amended return, the average number attending
monthly together with the sick in hospital, exceed the average number on the register, and
Whether registration fees have
been levied, and at what rate.
Whether the women have been
regular at the periodical examina-
tions.