§ 19. Mr. MATHERSasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is 1745 aware that the Pan-African Health Conference Committee on Malaria reported that the results of research cannot be applied successfully, and on an adequate scale, unless the economic status of the bulk of the population of Africa is raised; whether the removal of native poverty is constantly kept before his officers in the Colonies and Dependencies; and whether he can report any recent progress in this regard?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe hon. Member would be in error in thinking that the conference were of the opinion that malaria is due to malnutrition or other causes connected with poverty. This is an error. Malaria is an organism or parasite of which the hosts or vectors are particular species of mosquitos, and whether or not a person catches malaria depends, not on his personal wealth, but on whether he is or is not bitten by a mosquito infected with the malaria parasite. The important thing for all to realise is the necessity for destroying the mosquitos.
§ Mr. MATHERSMay I again—I asked the same question several days ago—ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he denies the statement, made in the report to which I have referred, that the question of tackling the incidence of malaria cannot be properly dealt with unless the economic position of the people generally is raised? Does the right hon. Gentleman deny that statement; and will he be good enough to answer the last part of the question on the Paper, as to what is being done by the Government to take action in this direction?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIt is perfectly true that, unless the purchasing power of the community can be raised, it is impossible to raise taxation for the public-works necessary to clear up the swamps and the like which breed the mosquitoes; and the problem of increasing the purchasing power of the native inhabitants of the tropics depends entirely on the world price of what they produce for Sale.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs it not the case that the absolute poverty and malnutrition of the workpeople of Ceylon were responsible for a terrific death rate as the result of a malaria epidemic in 1934–35, a considerable proportion of 1746 which would have been avoided had the people been fed as they might be fed?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThat is another question. As I pointed out the other day, the primary need of Ceylon is an effective campaign against the malaria-bearing mosquito. Apart from that, I entirely agree that the nutrition of a large number of people in Ceylon is unsatisfactory, because they prefer imported husked rice; and great steps have been taken in the last two or three years to increase the acreage under locally grown rice, which is far more nutritious.
§ Mr. JAGGERAs a temporary measure, pending the result of the steps to which the right hon. Gentleman refers, can he deal with the moneylending germ? That would help.