Brains Trust

Hutt News, Volume XII, Issue 12, 8 September 1948, Page 8

Brains Trust

■ 1 - V ■ "* VITAL PROBLEMS DISCUSSED

W hat are the most frequent causes of separation and divorce? Should young children be made to listen to lone; church sermons which they cannot understand? How much does money affect the success of marriage? These questions were among twelve discussed by a Brains Trust on home and family problems in the Dunedin Town Hall. Members of the Brains Trust, which was part of the Home and Family Week, were:—The Rev. R. S. Watson, question-master, and a panel comprised of Mesdames W. K. Cameron, A. K. Ibbotson, Miss Vera Hayward, Professor G. A. F. Knight, Dr. Harold Palmer, and Messrs. K. A. North and P. S. Anderson.

Speakers on the first question, "Dees the large proportion of old people in New Zealand have a good or a bad effect on family life?” were unanimous in saying that, with certain provisions, elderly people were capable of having a steady influence which was very good indeed.

"Considering the present housing shortage, old people in the home can prove a difficult problem,” said Dr. Palmer. “No family group, however, is complete without old people, who should have an entirely good effect.” Mrs. Cameron said that elderly people trained the younger members of the family in patience and tolerance, but they should have a private room in which they could retire for a little peace. It was especially important that State houses should have rooms provided for elderly people.

Child Delinquency

“New Zealand is about 50 years behind the times in these matters. Child delinquency, even in Dunedin, is shocking,” declared Dr. Palmer in discussing a question asking whether It would be a good idea to establish child psychiatric clinics in New Zealand in conjunction with the Education Boards. He regarded the question tc be just as obvious as asking whether we should have hospitals. State control of such clinics might mean that they tended to become stereotyped but, on the other hand, if they were under private control there Was the danger of collapse if one keen man left.

Miss Hayward told the audience that Dunedin’s problem children were cared for better than in any other city in New Zealand', due to the work of Dr. Palmer, Dr. F. W. Mitchell, professor of education at Otago University, and students who Conducted the Child Guidance Clinic. Ai; the end of the evening Principal A. L. Haddon, of the Church of Christ Bible College, thanked all who had contributed to the success .of the Home and Family Week, and said that he hoped that as a result of the discussions a marriage guidance council would he set up in Dunedin.