THE FEEBLE-MINDED.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1924, Page 4

THE FEEBLE-MINDED.

NEEDS FOR SEGREGATION. WELLINGTON, Alay 21. “The criminal neglect of the feebleminded adolescent girl,” said the President of the New Zealand Educational Institute (Air C. T. Aselnnaii) in his adddess to the eougros.s “is a national

ni.-grase." J.e urged that the only solution of the problem was .segregation inLo farm colonies, and said that drastic; measures were necessary to deal with this cancerous growth. “the breeding of animals useful to man is

viewed as of the greatest importance,* said Air Aselnnaii. “and periodically :• ll;St:iii-iii.s arise calling attention to the daiiycrs ol Invoking irom ‘tcruo stock, but tlie breeding ol ‘scrub’ hitman stock excites no- alarm and even less agitation in the minds ol the people* of this country, /litis pollution of

(,ur national life through t:.e nmeMr.ttned nro-dnotion ;-f their kind by those of leebio-niiud will assuredly call tor a heavy penalty in the not too distant future. To-day with a small population New Zealand can handle this question succosstuhy, hut etety ve::r of delay makes a .solution of the problem increasingly difficult. Ihe

o*t*y ctfeeiive .solution is a census ol i!r:s._* of fcclde-niiisi and the segregation of the-girls especially into farm colonies Those of feeble mind with parents of normal inti-Uc*. nudity would undoubtedly he leit in their own homes, hut wucieever the family history is bad an*. 1 the parents of cuoii loiv mentality t!*;.t ilie .1 lolesci nt fe iile-lllilided gil l would not lie sutlicient ■ v prolemed. it is •if .supreme importance ihat she should be placed in such a position that it would lee impossible fin her to perpetuate her kind. Drastic measures are necessary fer no torm ol cottcalioo or hygiene can transform mental deficiency into normality. Both wore tried with the cretins of Avo.-tn, and beyond improving their condition.; a little by humanitarian Lre-iim-ent no imnrovenieiit ijiiovod, hut the detect .vn.s practically eradicated by the segregation of the male slid female cretins during tin* ■ropri.dticlivo age. Aleut.-tI debt ie'lev is a social.igi< :.l. slot a,i edig-atitnaii question, hut tc.-.eiicrs ! efore ail pc pile are vitally interested la ilia mental quality of the ehib.l.’eii t.f tin* Dominion. With the greatest confidence * therefore a , , lor your, :e<si'iance i*i i-viniiig this ea'ieenai; grov. ih until she j*e .pie *1 New Zealand are forced to <! in::ml it*, removal. Tin* lii-torv ef ihe nite-;.*,, .Dikes family in the United Stales of America bills fair to 1 • equalled in the course ef time by certain families in New Zeal;:- ' 'I lee subject oi tin* duet it cue-; of the feeble-minded gill is liup!c::-nni. but il.e policy of-ignoring it or of forget Dog it i- but gross stupidity si-i the nan of a | *e(.p!o from w hum a inneli higher .standard is expected. Segregati-J'i would mil only moan ultimate financial saving, bait als'i ethnic gain.”

PROOF OF THE BUDDING. The proof of tlie pudding is in the eating, and the proof of “Ala.ltexo’s” * lii ai.y as a ionic fund is found in the

large numbers who now use it regularly. More people are 1.-.’.-ing ii than ever. Thousands and thousands are liing mad.'* strong, healthy and vigo:oils by “Af.altexo.”- Advt.