MORAL DEGENERATES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 82, 23 August 1912, Page 6

MORAL DEGENERATES

I ! COMPULSORY DETENTION URGED. i The necessity of the compulsory detenI tion of moral degenerates was discussed at Wednesday's meeting of the Taranaki Hospital Board. The subject was broached upon receipt of a circular resolution from the Wallace and Mord Board recommending: "That representations be made to the Minister of Internal Affairs urging on the Government the necessity of providing an institution forthe compulsory detention of morally defective girls and women." According to the chairman (Mr. F. C J, Bellringer), the resolution did not "o far r enough. What about the male degenerates? To his mind thev should also, be forcibly detained.

Mr. D. McAllum: "A jolly sight more so!" He then went on t'o state that in one province in the South Island hundreds of girls of tender age passed through tlie hospital's, so he' was informed, on account of their being tampered with" by men, or, rather, degenerates. To him it was a terribly sad thiixr that human nature had fallen so low. The chairman then moved the following motion:— '-that' in view 0 f the increasing burden of maintaining degenerates and their offspring, and in view of the danger to the community both from a, moral and physiological point of view, tins Board affirms the necessity of founding an institution, with powers of detention, for'persons of feeble character, whose proclivities are a source of danger to the community, both" from a physiological and moral point of view." In seeondmg the motion, Mr. J. Brown said that TTie law ought to he amended in order to deal effectively with male degenerates. Mr. MoAllum in agreeing with this view, said that a similar course had been urged by Dr. Thacker. of Christchurch. A drastic step of the sort must come some day. The motion was carried unanimously.