IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 173, 24 July 1928, Page 6

IN THE PUBLIC MIND.

MENTAL DEFECTIVES. , EXPLANATION OF BILL. Jjfc j — mi • (To the Editor.) The writer in the "Star" of Friday la#t of the article on the Mental Defectives Bill ha* evidently been misled by an incomplete summary of the bill. From the copy of the bill which I send herewith, you will see that there is no "suggestion that children who are classed as 'retarded' at school may be. registered as ineligible for marriage." Section 15 provides among other things, that the Director of Education is to publish the names of children whose educational development is retarded two years or more. The object is that such children may be kept under observation from time to time by experts of the board, who would visit the schools, give advice as to the treatment of such children, and if there were anv cases of mental deficiency they might be noted and if necessary taken in hand in an earlv stage. The committee of inquiry, of which I was chairman, pointed out the weakness of the so-called "intelligence tests/' and also referred to the numerous causes which might account for children being "retarded" at school. Personally, I think it would be sufficient if children retarded three years or more were reported. This is the law in Massachusetts. It is only persons actually placed on the register bv the board whose marriage is prohibited. Clause 16 provides that the board shall not put the name of any person on the register unless it is satisfied that "such person is a mentally defective person properly classifiable under the principal Act as 'idiotic,' or 'imbecile,' or •feeble-minded,' or 'epileptic,' or 'socially defective'." The last named takes the place of "moral imbecile" in the English Act, and is intended to cover cases of a very dangerous class of persons who seem to have an uncontrollable tendency to commit various forms of crime, particularly sexual. There is provision for an appeal to a judge of the Supreme Court, and I feel certain that every care will be taken that persons will be placed on the register only in cases when it is leallv necessary in their own interests and in the interests of ♦jiety that they should be so dealt with. I think it very desirable that the bill should be criticised and discussed from every point of view, but it is, of course, important that there shall be no misapprehension as to what it actually provides. W. H. TRIGGS. Legislative Council, Wellington, July 21.

"THE WOMAN TEMPTED ME." Miss Basten was indeed right when she classified "Married's" reply to lier challenge as feeble and puerile. Has not "Married" rejoiced this world long enough with his presence to have discovered that the modern girl, with all her alleged immodesty and brazen display of her charms, has, nine times out of ten, not so much to cloak as some of her more soft-spoken, mealy-mouthed sisters ? In any case, surely men have the will power to resist these socalled temptations. If not, they are surely not entitled to, and would not be able to keep, the respect of the women who marry them! In his argument, "Married" is tacitly acknowledging the fact that men (the sort of men he has in mind) have only to meet with temptation to fall. Not a verv good testimonial to your sex surely, "Married": INTERESTED. A FARMER'S COMPLAINT. We hear a lot about our good Government and what it is trying to do for the "cockie," but how many "cockies" trouble to write" down their troubles? I have been trying for about sixteen years to get a telephone, as I am. eight miles from an exchange. Government poles go right past my place, but regulations will not allow another wire to go 011 for one or two settlers. It must be a party line, but the others are too scattered or too poor to subscribe. I am willing to pay the cost, give a guarantee, pay a lot down in advance, or anything within reason, as I realise a "phone would mean a lot of increased business and might : some day be very urgently required for" a doctor. Recently my farm hand left me in the lurch; just the wife and myself to hand milk over thirty cows, as the engine jibbed and I had no means of getting outside help. I wrote away to the Immigration Department for a hand, and after three weeks' waiting and expecting a hand when miemplovment was rife, I got a letter to say nobody was available at present. It would be hard luck if we had to leave the farm chiefly because the telephones are a Government monopoly and the Government will not listen to any reasonable paying proposition if it is against "regulations." ONE OF THE FARMERS.

SHOULD GIRLS PAY? I have read with increasing amusement and wonderment the futile letters written by equally futile youths on the above subject. I do not believe there is a girl in Auckland of any sense who would be prepared to pay for the privilege of a boy's company unless, of course, he is an old and valued friend. If the blase (perhaps) "Bored Young Man" seeks girls who will pay for the doubtful pleasure of his company he had better go elsewhere. The ludicrous attitude and pose adopted by the modern youth of tender years is that ®y er y girl is anxious to attract his notice. How wonderfully condescending of him. It overwhelms me. Possibly if he only knew of the amusement caused by his ''conquering hero" air he would be less se'lf-confident. Per" haps in the near future • iav receive a jolt that will pierce the venei* of his conceit, but meanwhile he knows no better, so let a fool be a fool in his own little way. SWEET SEVENTEEN NO. 2. SAVINGS BANKS IN SCHOOLS. It is reported that one pupil has £.",00 in the sayings bank branch at the school. Surely the refusal of the Belmont teachers to adopt the system is here justified. How could anv child save £300 by such means as the promoters of this system have in mind? A child could do so only by being a depositor for her parents. That is to say, monev which ordinarily would go to the savings bank is lodged at school. Teachers should not be called upon to save adults this trouble. Besides, is it not •? f °\ children that such large sums should be taken to school ? Think of the temptation to steal, the temptation to crowover a child less fortunately placed, and the feelings of children whose parents are poor. COMMON SENSE.

THE POLITICAL CHOICE. It seems to me, as one who has been a supporter of the Reform Government for many years, that although the Coates regime has not been all one would desire (and I would like \T^ Se f substitute for it) and though - * ' .• s remarks are interesting, he has provided neither policy nor leader, theretore we Reformers must perforce vote for Coates again. PUZZLED. Perplexed" writes to similar effect. COLD FACTORIES. * aSk y ° Ur assista nce in helping to factories » InSS £ Ut - ° Ver the concrete fl oors of ' , During the winter girl employees are shivering o\ri n .r to standmg on tlie concrete, especially where there are no heaters. JAMES GEORGE.