MENTAL HYGIENE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 February 1930, Page 3

MENTAL HYGIENE

PLANS OF NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL. A DOMINION FOUNDATION SUGGESTED.

CH'RISTCHURCH, February 20

A decision to urge upon the Government that New Zealand be represented at the first international congress on mental hygiene, to he held at Washington in May, 1930, was made at the annual meeting of the New Zealand National Council for Mental Hygiene, held at Christchurch yesterday. The executive was also empowered to act upon suggestions that a conference on mental health and social problems he held in Wellington during 1931, and that a New Zealand Foundation of Mental Hygiene lie instituted. Dr L. Buchanan presided.

The report presented by the provi 4 ion nil executive recorded progress since the initial meeting of the council at AVellington last year, and recommended the representation of New Zealand at the Washington conference and the holding of a conference on mental health and social problems at Wellington during 1931. At the latter conference the co-operation of' educational and social welfare organisations, including the British Medical Association a#d the New Zealand

Medico-Psychological Society* would be sought. Regarding the proposed institution of a New Zealand Foundation .for .Mental Hygiene, the report stated that it would not be an operating" agency—such as the National Council—hut would serve as custodian and administrator of gifts and bequests of use in any part of the field. This Foundation would be controlled by a Hoard of Trustees having the confidence of all sections of the community. It would he irimnrily a financing agency, aiming to give aid, in so far as its resource* •vwmit, to work—including research—which will help to conserve mental health, reduce and prevent nervous and mental disorders and mental defect, and improve the care and treatment of those suffering from these disorders.

In the doing of this it would necessarily spread reliable information .on these subjects, on mental factors 111olved in the problems of education, the mental hygiene of childhood, industry, deliquency, crime, 'dependency and on other subjects related to the broad field of human endeavour.

A permanent agency, belonging to ‘he public such as this foundation would he, would enable the resources for mental hygiene work to be pooled. Funds would he secured by influencing donors to give as liberally for the mental welfare of mankind (including research and preventive measures) as they have been in the habit of doing for the physical welfare of mankind. '

As the preamble to the 1 American* Foundation for Mental Hygiene said “Science take exception to the law) that only those whom Nature deems the fittest shall survive. Nature has her hidden remedies for the torture of a broken mind or body* and science is upon the march in search of those remedies that they may be rededicated to mankind. The knowledge so gained forms a sacred trust of civilisation for the maintenance of the strong, for the refitting of the weak and sick to their health and opportunity, and for their deliverance to a useful life in the community, and the pursuit of happiness, which is the proper promise of creation.” The following office-bearers were electfd: —President, Sir Trilby King; vice-president. Mr John Alexander, f'.M.G., (Auckland), Dr G. Gray (Wel--1 iii at on,) Mr J. E. Purchase M.A. and Dr Marshall'Macdonald (Dunedin) ; lion, secretary. Dr A. R. Fal eoner (Dunedin.) The Dunedin branch was empowered to act as the executive committee, of the Council, and the draft constitution was tentatively adopted, to be confirmed at, the next general meeting.