[“The Aborigines of the State”, The West Australian, Friday 29 November 1907, page 3]
THE ABORIGINES OF THE STATE.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF PROTECTOR.
The annual report of the Chief Protector of Aborigines, Mr. H. C. Prinsep (for the year ended June 30 last), was presented to the Legislative Assembly yesterday afternoon by the Colonial Treasurer.
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The general conditions of health of the aborigines, with the exception of those under relief, has been tolerably good. There has been only one epidemic reported, and but little fever in the northern districts as has sometimes been the case, but the system of supplying drugs here and there to relievers, who understand the use of them, apparently has done much good. But the general prevalence and steady increase of venereal disease has made itself very apparent, and much correspondence has been received on this question. The menace to the white population, although probably the seeds of evil have been sown by them in the first instance, is becoming so great that strong representations have been made, especially by the medical officer at Carnarvon. Some drastic steps should be taken to check the spread of the disease. I advised the establishment of Lock Hospitals, or to set apart an island in some convenient place where patients could be treated under lock and key, and not permitted to leave the establishment until cured; a temporary cure in such cases being of little or no use. The matter is now under discussion. On June 11, at your request, I attended a conference of medical men, presided over by the Principal Medical Officer, to consider the subject of the treatment in numbers of natives suffering from venereal diseases. The subject was well discussed by several medical men present, assisted by information from me with regard to the provisions of the Act and the powers thereunder, and it was generally agreed that the most effectual means of keeping down, if not entirely stamping out, this growing scourge was to provide an island equipped with buildings and staff, and to make certain regulations by which settlers would have to give every assistance to police officials towards sending in any natives whose presence among their fellows, or among the whites, would be likely to help to spread the disease. The actual comparison of the cost between the proposition, namely, an island or segregating compounds on the mainland, was not gone into owing to want of time, but even though the latter system might have been more economic, the members were of opinion that in any case it would not be really effectual. In my opinion the island scheme might in the end turn out to be the more economic after all, as on one of the islands suggested, and what seemed the most favourable spot to me, a considerable number of sheep might be grazed, thus saving cost of food, and returning expenses by sale of wool, and should any contractor be allowed to dig for phosphates, he would in return make communication with land easy and cheap, and might give employment to any of the invalids who were able to do some work.
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AB notes:
This 1907 piece includes Prinsep’s support in principle for the establishment of “Lock Hospitals”.
