COST TO COUNTRY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 26 July 1929, Page 9

COST TO COUNTRY

OF FOREIGN MENTAL DEFECTIVES STATEMENT BY MINISTER , (By, Telegraph). (From. “The Man's" Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON. 25th July. The cost to the country of the large number of mentally detective toreigners who arc permanently resident in nislitutions controlled by the Mental Hospitals 1 Icpiirtmcnt was referred i<> today in a. .statement made by t lie Minister of Health (the lion. A. J. Stallworthy). The Minister said it was desirable that steps should be taken lo prevent persons of this type from entering the Dominion. There, were over 200 mentally defective persons of non-British origin permanently in institutions, and many of them had been there lor a considerable number of years. 'lhc average stay was thirteen years. lo date, these foreigners had cost the country over RIBO,OOO, the annual cost of their upkeep being nearly £15.000. It seemed improbable, Mr Stall worthy said, that anything could be done in respect of these unlortunalo people, already in New Zealand, but any increase in their numbers could be checked effectively by an amendment ot the Immigration Restriction Act in the, direction of provision for the deportation of foreigners becoming insane within five years of their arrival in the country. The Minister explained that the existing law left a loophole for the entry of mental defectives, in that idiots are allowed to enter the country if accompanied by their parents. Since a mentally feeble person cannot go about the world alone, this provision nullities a preceding clause in the Immigration Rcsl ruction Act, which states that an idiot or insane person shall jjiil be allowed to land. Another point is that an immigrant suffering from delusional insanity lias a very good chance of passing the port medical officer without. detection, since only a brief time is devoted to the examination of such person during the doctor’s general inspection. Thus it is probable that persons likely to be committed to mental institutions at some later date may cornu in and eventually add to the burden of the taxpayers. Mr Stallworthy said lie was much concerned about the position, and it was likely that the Government will bring down an amending Bill to lighten up the restrictions.