MENTAL DEFECTIVES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18127, 17 July 1924, Page 6

MENTAL DEFECTIVES.

ENQUIRY CONCLUDED. ■ (PBEBS ASSOCIATION MLECHtAU.) . WELLINGTON; July 16. Tho Commission on. Mental Defectives sat again to-day. J)r. D. E.-Fen-wick, representing the British Medical Association, said; that "by far the,-most important element in' the causation, of ; mental . deficiency was -heredity. This was far more important than association or 'environment. The most important'point, therefore, .Tpas the preventjoh- of' the breeding-;,of; mental de- ' degenera^Bs.' K The chief. aim was to prevent the' marriage or I intercourse of people likely to produce ' mental defectives. Sterilisation would prevent propagation, but not further offenced of sexual degeneracy. The problem of segregation was extremely difficult, but .it might be tackled in some manner. 1

i Instruction of Children in sex liygiene was entirely parental, and the #vras quite against instruction in mass. Personally, he thought any child under 15 was too young to receive such instruction. Undoubtedly, confirmed sexual perverts should be segregated as a danger to the community. . He believed that a certificate of mental and 'physical, health should be required of persons before marriage. The chief - questions should relate to parentage, venereal disease, and nervous disorder. Mrs Glover, probation officer; and prison visitor for the Salvation Army, quoted some shocking cases of heredity and its results. Slie did not believe it would do any good to teach Children collectively. Teaching should be individual, for no two cases were alike. . Miss Jean Begg, of the Education Department, quoted the success of State institutions for feeble-minded in New York. She emphasised tho great importance of the study of each individual ease, and advocated the training of teachers for the direct training of individual defectives, 7 a complete census of defectives, and a travelling clinic to deal with .cases. Miss Begg advocated dealing with unregulated dance halls by the institution of proper regulations and supervision. Mr Bligh, on behalf of the New Zealand White Cross League, said he did not think there was any reason why teachers of simple truths to promote sex purity should have: medical training. Up to the age of 12 years, the talk should be simply on conduct, with ti pica for chivalry to older children. A clear statement should be given b>" one of their sex. The tendency on the part of most people was to make a mountain out of a molehill in regard to the teaching of sex purity to the young. He hcid that on- the whole parents were not the best people to give their children sex instruction. This concluded the work of the Commission as far as the taking of formal evidence is concerned.