SERIOUS PROBLEM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 307, 24 November 1934, Page 12

SERIOUS PROBLEM

THE MENTALLY UNFIT. HOSPITAL CHAIRMAN’S REFERENCE. Per Press Association. NELSON, Nov. 23. In the course of an address on the sterilisation problem to the Nelson Rotary Club, Major Dagger, chairman of the Nelson Hospital Board, said the cost of upkeep of general hospitals had become alarming, but on the other hand the outlay upon mental institutions had been enormous. The maintenance of general hospitals by means of a levy upon local rating bodies and the Consolidated Fund came before people who could readily make a protest against what they might consider extravagant or careless administration, whereas the maintenance of mental institutions, being a Government department solely, did not come under the review of public opinion to the same extent. That department appeared to be a law unto itself. A tragic phase was that expenditure in this direction was increasing by leaps and bounds, and would continue to do so unless something were done. After liis years of experience on the Hospital Board, he had come to the conclusion that much was required to be done to arrest the very rapid deterioration in the standard of human fitness. The departments of Agriculture and Horticulture continuallly advocated the weeding out of weaklings, and rightly so. With regard to human stock, was there anything approaching this policy being adopted by the Health Depai-tmentP No—the policy was the reverse of this. During the war it was found an appalling number of human beings were unfit. The fit were slaughtered in millions, the unfit remained at home to multiply and replenish the earth. This multiplication of the unfit was a great danger that was not receiving the attention warranted. He could quote a mass of appalling figures and convince them as to this great danger, but would give a few details which had come under his personal notice at the hospital. “Case A.—Cost to Hospital Board, £55: a widow with eight children, six of them committeed to the State. This woman had been an inmate of a mental institution, and was discharged. After discharge she bore an illegitimate child. Later she bore twins. She was again an inmate of a mental institution. Prior to her first discharge sterilisation ought to have been performed. “Case B.—Parents alive but mother sub-normal. Six children. The family has cost the Hospital Board £811; the entire family having been patients in the hospital. “Case C.—Parents alive, with 13 children, all of whom have been patients at one time or other, costing the Hospital Board £474. Seven of these children are committed to the State. “These three families Jiave cost the Hospital Board so far £1340, and the cost is by no means ended,” said Major Dagger. “Moreover, there is the additional cost of 13 children in charge of the State authorities.” When they realised that hospital boards throughout the Dominion were dealing with many cases of similar type, they would have some'idea what propagation of the unfit meant to the taxpayer, he added. “Naturally, you may ask me wliat is my remedy, but the matter is of such vital importance that no satisfactory answer will be available until it has been thoroughly investigated by a competent authoritative body,” added Major Dagger. “Personally, I am convinced a remedy can be found, and surely it is not beyond the powers of Parliament, guided by the best medical and legal advice, to frame the necessary procedure. Hitler, with all his faults, has been bold enough to devise legislation for remedying the evil by means of sterilisation. It may be argued that there would be great dangers in administering a law in regard to sterilisation, but if such dangers did exist —and I doubt it—-these would be infinitesimal compared with the great dangers which we are allowing to make headway under present conditions.”