MENTAL DEFECTIVES.

Evening Star, Issue 14637, 5 August 1911, Page 5

MENTAL DEFECTIVES.

FIRST GOVERNMENT BILL OF THE SESSION. In the House of Representatives last evening consideration was given to the Mental Defectives Bill. In moving its second reading, The Minister in charge of the department, (lion. G. Fowlds) explained that onn of the dangers of .allowing mentally defective people to be at large' was their fertility. The birth rato of defective* wns larger than that of strong-minded members of communities. The Bill provided for an annual report, on all cases in the form of certificate. Tn the. case of criminal lunatics, who hitherto, had been " oneo a- lunatic, always a lunatic," it was proposed that when the sentence of the. Court expired the case, could be reviewed. Persons who were. lunatics when they committed crimes, but who were sane when tried, were, provided for. Provision was made for allowing persons to voluntarily place themselves under _ treatment in an institution. Any alteration in the old Act was made with a view to the removal of anomalies and a simplification' of the law.

The Leader of the Opposition said *he Bill was intended to bring the law dealing with mental defectives up to date, and such a measure was, of course, very necessary. He referred to hj. paragraph in a newspaper drawing attention to overcrowding at the Avcndale Asylum. He had never rend anything so bad as was reported of that institution. The Auckland asylum was so overcrowded as to be dangerous. He dared not think what would happen in case of fire at the asylum. This was surely a cafe for a Royal Commission, finch a Commission should bo composed of experienced men, not necessarily medical men, but men experienced in this class of work. He believed that the Inspector-General of Hospitals was overworked. The Minister in charge of the department visited the institution, recently, and nothing had becav done."*"" The Hon. Mr Fowlds : " He took steps to have the matter remedied as epeedily as poesiblo." Mr Massey went on to say that nothing had been eione np to the present. It had been boasted what had been done for prisoners, but hero was a special clafs of people who coulel do nothing for thornfelves, and nothing wa6 being done for them. He had juet received a letter from an ex-patient of the asylum, who was now- cured stating that patients, when first admitted, were, sent to the refractory ward, wlijeh was the closest imitation to hell imaginable. Mr Fowlds said that was not the practice. Mr Thomson said ho did not quite agre« with Mr Massey in regard to Royal Commissions, excepting where the subject matter concerned mental defectives. It was very necessary to make provision for defective children, and so reduce the number of mentally deficient in other institutions. Many of the mentally deficient children were epileptics, and provision should be made for their proper care. Mr Fisher suggested that the Bill should go to a (ommitteo. who could examine expert witnesses. Export evidence wae necessary to guide the lay mind. Mr Field said that if the Bill wan given a fair chance, and if the mental institutions continued to be administered by the very efficient staff r.ow in charge, good would result. Mr E. H. Ta.ylor cited a case in which a patient had been admitted and discharged from a mental institution eicht times in 20 years. The Bill before the House provided for cases of this description. Mr Latrrcneon pointed out that 50 years ago the proportion of the population in mont.il inf.titnf.ions was 1 to 530; now it war- 1 to 2SO. He was under the impression that not enough money was spent on these institutions. Mr Hanan paid opinions were widespread as to tho causes of insanity. Opinions had been expressed in Australia that factory life was responsible, for the manufacturing of some of the inmates of men tal i mtitut ions. Mr Clark suggested that the Eugenie* •Society should be empowered to visit, and report on the feeble minded. He thought it was the duty of the House to pass more money for t.ht> uplifting of the afflkttd. After further debate. The Minister replied. Ho was not prepared to say tliab the Avondale Asylum was not overcrowded, and seriously overcrowded at that. He had looked well ahead when the institution at Tokamd was being dasigned. He was to blame in a measure for not having the work done, moro quickly, but it must be remembered that they had an abnormally high rate of admission to the asylums Inst year. The admission was especially high in the Auckland district. Tho buildings which were to be erected, would be proceeded with as quickly as possible, and within a few months tho position would bo relieved. With regard to a Royal Commission, Mr Massey had a mania for them, and ho (Mr Maescy) would spend as much money theTeon as would bo necessary to copo with the whole question. As to the allegation that new patients wero put into the refractory ward when they .arrived at the asylum, no superintendent would do such a thing. The statements in regard to the long hours of the- attendants were exaggerated. Members had to remember that heavy expenditure was necessary to carry out needed works. It was no small matter to got sufficient money for the necessary extension of the mental hospitals. The Bill wae read a eecond time on the voices.