MENTAL DEFECTIVES’ BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1928, Page 3

MENTAL DEFECTIVES’ BILL

oy Telegraph—Press Assn., Copyright. WELLINGTON, July 30. To-night the Executive of the Wellington Branch of tho New Zealand Howard League for Penal Reform expressed the opinion that certain of tho provisions contained in tbe Mental Defectives Amendment Bill called for revision, and for considerable modification. This was particularly the case in respect to (a) the extension of the definition of a mentally defective person; (b) the constitution and functions of the Board; and (c) tbe compilation of the Register. The Executive submits that the definition of persons socially defective in Clause Seven is ambiguous, and is liable to serious misconstruction, and should be in the terms of the British amendment of 1927. The constitution of the Board, to include four Departmental heads, is objected to, it being considered that Departmental officials, however efficient, should not he required to undertake the exacting duties that confront the Board in the compilation of the icgister and the administration of the Act. Discussions on such important matters as registration should, it was held, be determined by an unanimous vote, and the Board should, as far as possible, consist of independent experts The Bill does not make it clear whether the Board was actually an examining body, or whether its functions were' purely administrative. In the latter case, no assurance is to he gained from the Bill that any adequate examining Board such as a travelling clime, as advocated by Dr Gray in his recent report, will be set up. It was most strongly purged that all reference to retardation be eliminate! from tho Bill. In respect to sterilisation, it was pointed out that it cannot be too strongly emphasised that sterilisation, without segregation, might be, 1 the point of view of morals and public health, highly dangerous. Segregation . on the other hand, renderbd sterilisation unnecessary.