MENTAL CASES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 June 1924, Page 7

MENTAL CASES.

SEXUAL PERVERTS. VIEWS OF SPECIALIST. * (by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) e AUCKLAND, June 11. Before the mental defective commission, Dr. Mildred Staley, late medical officer under the London County Council in the Borstal Institute for young girls, an a specialist of wide experience in different countries where investigations have been made concerning mental deficiency and sexual perversion, submitted a paper setting out some fundamental provisions for delinquency and mental defectives.

• (1) There should be a research department and laboratory in connection with the main courts and all correctional institutions and mental defectives’ homes.

(2) Adequate provision should be made for the custody of all mental eases committed, whether or not they had' acourt record. (3) All such institutions should be equipped with facilities for the exact classification and treatment ot variovs types. (4) The adoption of a definite policy of segregation to be permanent lor certain defective delinquents and mental deficients, who were potential criminals aim victims of criminals. (5) An indeterminate sentence for convicted persons who, by proper treatment, might return to the community and. take up their full responsibilities as citizens. "Without..the third provision this would he useless. (6) . Education of probation officials and the police, especially of wonmn police.

i ) Lists should be kept in schools concernmg the progress, social relations and home surroundings of mental defectives. (8) Education, of parents, teacheis, and the public , 'egardiog the increase or crime and' men cal deficiency. : Other points were: Greater provision and assistance for orphanages and assistance for orphanages and homes for children, with a more efficient inspection of “boarded out” juveniles, and the appointment of a speciallygifted medical officer to advise lads in training camps' of sex and other matters. Other phases touched on were: The establishment of clinics under specialists ; the strict censoring of cinemas, theatres, etc.; equipment for curing Patients who ivere alcoholics or sexual offenders; full education in physical and moral hygiene; trade training, etc,; and the abolition of the free sale of liquor. * Sister Hannah submitted' the views of the National Council of "Women. Dr. A. B. Fitt, professor of education at the Auckland University College, dealt with the psychological aspects of the problem. He advocated caution, saying many cases of mental dullness had been included in the feebleminded class. He advocated the appointment of psychological officers in a mental department, just'as there was a Health Department. There should lie an ungraded clqss in each of the large schools in charge of a teacher with special qualifications.

Dr. R. J. R. McCready, school medical officer, estimated that 1 per cent, of the children of school ag© in his part of the Auckland district were mentally defective. He suggested the segregation of feeble-minded children in farm colonies, and special clinics for the examination of supposed mentally defective or criminal children. Epileptic children would need special facilities in a home until free from disease.

Dr. Hilda Northero-ft advocated segregation and sterilisation. Some people, who had not had histories or tendencies, might- even he allowed to marry if they were sterilised. Dr. Kenneth McKenzie- said he must arlmif; that in adult eases the desexualisation operation would have a serious mental effect. It- had been too much assumed that sex pervert-s were feebleminded, but in actuality they were generally by no- mean’s the same people.