CARE OF FEEBLEMINDED

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1929, Page 7

CARE OF FEEBLEMINDED

PROBLEM THAT MUST BE

GRAPPLED

WELLINGTON, April 19.

Speaking at a .meeting of the Wellingion After-Care Association last night, Dr. T. G. Gray, Director-Gen-eral of Mental Hospitals, said that when he was investigating the treatment of mental deficiency in Great Britain and the United States it was deeply impressed on him that in those countries there had recently been an intense awakening of public interest regarding feeble-minded. But the populations of those countries were so large, and the awakening was so late that present efforts appeared puny in relation to the magnitude of the problem. He had not that pessimistic feeling regarding New Zealand, with its relatively small population. New Zealand and possibly Australia, seemed to him to be almost the only countries where this problem could l>e tackled with any prospects of success. But, unless they were to drift into the position of the old lands, they must deal with the question with energy and courage and confidence, not shaken by the apparent helplessness of other lands.

He doubted if the people of New Zealand realised the extent and the importance of the problem, and the responsibilities ft entailed. Directly: or indirectly it 'touched every family and every individual in the countit, and if not dealt with here and now. would get out of hand, with the results seen in older lands. Krom half to a third of all mentally defective persons who needed State care could be looked after in the general community if adequate provision was made for their supervision.