MENTAL DEFECTIVES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 31 July 1928, Page 5

MENTAL DEFECTIVES.

HOAA'ARD LEAGUE’S OPINION OF

NFAV BILL

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AVELLINGTON, July 30. The executive of the Wellingtonbranchof New Zealand Howard League for Penal Reform to-night expressed the opinion that certain provisions contained in the Alental DefectivesAmendment Bill called for revision ancl considerable modification. This was particularly the case in respect of the extension of the definition of a. mentally defective person, the constitution and functions of the hoard, ancl the compilation of a register. The executive submits that the definition of persons socially 7 defective in clause 7 is ambiguous, is liable to serious misconstruction, and should be remedied in the terms of the British amendment of 1927. The constitution of the board to include four departmental heads is objected to, it being considered that departmental officials, however efficient, should not be required to undertake the nervous and exacting duties that confront the board in the compilation of a register and the administration of- the Act. Decisions on such important matters as registration should, it was held, be determined by a unanimous vote, and the board should as far as possible consist of independent experts. The Bill did not make it clear whelier the hoard was actually the examining body or whether its functions were purely administrative, it was said. In the latter case' no assurance was to he gained' from the Bill that any 7 adequate examining board, such as the travelling clinic as advocated by Dr. Gray in his recent report, would be set up. It was- strongly urged that all rereference to retardation ,be eliminated from the Bill. In respect of sterilisation it could not be too strongly emphasised that sterilisation without segregation might be from the point of view of view of morals and public health highly dangerous. Segregation . on the other liand, rendered sterilisaion unnecessary.