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IV—Whether a cantonment sub-committee for exercising special supervision over the rules has existed
throughout the year and what officers composed it.
In writing of Rangoon, Dr. Johnstone pays
" There is a cantonment sub-committee composed of the Quartermaster and Adjutant
of the regiment along with the inspector* of police."
In Toungoo a sub-committee, "consisting of the following members, was
formed in May of the year under review : the Deputy Commissioner, the Officers
Commanding the Royal Artillery and British Infantry, the Senior Medical Officer,
British troops, the Superintendent of Police, and the Assistant Cantonment
Magistrate.
In Thayetmyo a sub-committee was farmed in June ; it was composed as
follows : the Deputy Commissioner, the Officers Commanding the Royal Artil-
lery and British troops, the Senior Medical Officer; and the Civil Surgeon.
At Moulmein there would appear to be no cantonment sub-committee ; and
at the other stations there are no troops.
All the lock-hospitals in the province are now under the control of the
municipalities.
V.—What special measures have been taken for control of prostitutes, and especially for preventing
the danger from unlicensed prostitutes frequenting the lines.
For this purpose in Rangoon an inspector, one naique, and three constables—
one naique and one constable in excess of the previous year's establishment—are
employed. In Moulmein one inspector of police is, as heretofore, so engaged.
At Bassein and Thayetmyo there seems to be no special police provision for
this purpose, but at the latter place it was decided to grant to informers rewards
to be paid out of fines realized where a conviction was obtained for breaches Of
lock-hospital rules, and the committee have resoled to fence round the prosti-
tutes' lines, leaving but one entrance gate, which the Medical Officer suggests
should be guarded by a policeman.
In Toungoo, on the other hand, a special detective agency was appointed last
year consisting of two constables supervised by a head constable.
Dr. Dalzell, the officer in charge of the Akyab institution, reports as follows
under this head : —
" I believe there is one Native inspector who is especially told off for this duty, but his
efforts have been productive of very little good. It is an undoubted fact that the police
are very reluctant to report or arrest persons whom they know to be carrying on unlicensed
prostitution.
" Why this should be the case it is difficult to say, but perhaps the Police authorities
can afford a satisfactory explanation. I think that if some stringent measures were
adopted, this state of matters would be changed.
" It is absurd to suppose that individuals whose whereabouts and calling can without
difficulty be ascertained by others should remain unknown to the police. It appears to me
that it forms a principal part of their duty to acquire an intimate knowledge of the charac-
ter and occupations of inhabitants residing within the limits of their respective beats.
" If a few of their number were singled out and punished for the suppression of infor-
mation on this subject, a most important and salutary step would be gained towards
removing the scourge of unlicensed prostitution.
" So little attention is paid to this subject that I am urgently desirous of bringing it
prominently to notice. Cases of theft and hurt rarely fail to be detected, and much time
and trouble are expended in endeavouring to bring offenders to justice, but the amount of
damage sustained by the injured parties in the majority of these cases can bear little com-
parison with that which is sustained by individuals who become infected with venereal
disease through the medium of unlicensed prostitutes and whose health and happiness are
thereby ruined for life.
" If the police were only more alive to the truth of these facts, I feel sure that they
would form a more just appreciation of the gravity of their responsibilities and not regard
unlicensed prostitution as a crime that may be winked at.
* NOTE.—In conversation, some time after the submission of his report, Dr. Johnstone informed me
that he thought it was the Superintendent of Police, not the inspector, who formed one of the cantonment
sub- committee.