MENTAL DEFECTIVES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14109, 31 July 1911, Page 5

MENTAL DEFECTIVES.

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS IX THE LAW.

(PHES3 ASSOCIATION TELECUAM.)

WELLINGTON. July 30. Some important anwsndmente to tho existing law are proposed by tho Meu- ; tal Defectives Bill, which is in charge of tho Hon. G. Fowlds. Incidentally, it has tho effect of removing the word '•lunatic" from the Statute Book, the new measure bfing in substitution for the Lunatics Act 1£X)8 and sections 436 to 441 of tho Crimes Act 1308, which aro to be repealed, most of thoir provisions being re-enacted. A mentally dofectivo person is defined as "a person who, owing to his mental condition, requires oversight, care, or control for his own good or in the public interest.' , . Tho new Bill proposes that after the ■ end of tho year in which an order is ; mado it shall be periodically reviewed by tho medical officer of the institu- ■ tion, who has to send to the Inspector- ; General a certificate that further de- j tention of tho person to whom tho i order relates is necessary for his OTvn I good or in tho public interest, and thus the order is kept alive. If tho medical officer cannot pond snch a certificate i tho inmato is discharged. Provision is also made for testing tho mental condition of persons awaiting trial or sentence whore there is any doubt as to thoir state of mind. Instead of tho oh- | starvation being made in prison, it will i bo competent For the Minister of Justice to transfer the person for a period to an institution to be put un 'ex a H lied I observation. A simple method of pro- j curing tho admission of minors into mental hospitals is provided, with safeguards against unnecessary detention. One of tho most important provisions is that by whi>h persons who feel that they need looking s< f tor may voluntarily enter a mental ho'oital for observation and treatment, and to ensure that thov shall not bo let out at a time when thoiv malady is beginning to develop or has developed, the Medical Superintendent is empowered to detain them for seven dave after they apnly to be released. The process by which anrtlication for the discharge of a patient may bo mod« is considerably simplified ivd 5n the final report nn ennuiry will bo made Hv a mnprfs+rato. who ?ms thfl power to order the patient's discharge or further detention. Another new nrovis'nn is that By which more, thnn ono PftfTont who?* malndv is not eori•firmnr? m*v bo kont in a nnblic or snpcial Tiri*r>i+nl not cnn'lr" > +ed for gain for a period of three months.