§ 25. Mr. MATHERSasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether action is being taken in any of His Majesty's Dependencies following on the recommendations made at the Pan-African Health Conference recently held in Johannesburg for the combating of malaria?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREAs the Prime Minister informed the hon. Member on 11th May, certain proposals of the Pan-African Health Conference were being submitted to the Council of the League of Nations by the Health Committee. I understand, however, that the proposals for combating malaria have not yet been considered by the special Malaria Committee of the Health Section.
§ Mr. MATHERSHas the right hon. Gentleman noticed that malaria is described as being in effect a poverty disease and that the economic standing or the natives is a primary cause of malaria, and will he act in that sense?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe primary cause of malaria is being bitten by a mosquito, and having had it myself in the tropics, I would not call it a poverty disease.
§ Mr. MATHERSDoes the right hon. Gentleman deny the statement that is made in the report from which I have taken this question?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREAs a scientist, yes.