A CASE FOR INQUIRY

Evening Star, Issue 15138, 20 March 1913, Page 9

A CASE FOR INQUIRY

At ;i. meeting of the Taranaki Hospital a:'./| C hai ilaolo Aid Board yesterday allegations cf a grave condition of affairs in connection with the administration of the Tntiixit Info J’rotaction Act,, which call for the fullest inquiry, were made. It is allege.:! tnal a rcspcclablo and bright young girl under the earn of the board, and who is ia tne fullest possession of her faculties, was htr-rally hounded to earth by certain Government officials desirous of committing ner in a noire for mcntally-defective girls. An ofik'sr of the Education Department Cwniencmd that the girl was mentally unfit, and soutpit to remove her from the control of Lie i.L'iid.. l ift- board, being convinced n til -V own minds and having expert afisnr.ince t.hat^t he girl was quite rational ?r,d of imr.Lmi.med character, fought the de- . pa;liVic;;t:d ukarc tooth and nail, even goi*;C to I’hc length of ignoring a warrant for the giri’a arrest and hiding her from the police. As the upshot of a long and at times animenious discussion, the following mcti.n was unanimously carried:— Th it the board request that a searching inquiry be. held into the condition of affairs that permits of the perpetration of such a gross injustice as is shown to have taken .place in the case of the girl, and, further, that the removal of the officers immediately responsible is demanded. lb .was then moved that the Minister of Justice bo requested to stay the warrant for the arrest of the child- pending the inquiry asked for Tjy. the board. Ibis was carried unanimously. . ,