MENTAL DEFECTIVES BILL PROVIDES FOR CARE OF ABNORMAL

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6664, 18 July 1928, Page 7

MENTAL DEFECTIVES BILL PROVIDES FOR CARE OF ABNORMAL

New Classification to : Cover Very Wide Range RESULT OF DOCTOR’S INVESTIGATIONS ABROAD Times Special. From Our Own Parliamentary Beporter. WELLINGTON, ast Night. . Care of mental defectives, based on the recommendations of the 1924 Commission and the reports and suggestion* of Dr. T. o. Gray, Inspoc- ■ tor-Oeneral of Mental Hospitals, m a result of Us recent trip abroad, la provided for in the Mental Delec. tlves Amendment Bill read a first . time In. the House to-day.

The maini provisions include the establishment of a Mental Hospital's Department as a separata Department of State, the ,creation of a new class of mentally defective persons to be known as. tho socially; defective, the constitu-! tidn pf a special board to have control over certain , classes of mentally defective^persons, alternative procedure for . tho admission of patients to mental hospitals and "the voluntary sterilisation of registered persons. Persons socially defective are defined in the Bill as those persons who suffer ' from; mental deficiency associated wita , or manifestedby anti-social conduct: 4hd who require suporrtslon for their own protection, or in the public interest; i. ; Igihister Explains. The Minister of Health; the Hon.-J. A. Young, when explaining the Bill, said that this classification ready covered , V thocasesofthoso who were feeble- • minded, a.Very essential ielaiuification/ ■Dndar'the new legisktioa it 'will hs -■ permissible to have a patient accepted by a mental' hospital on an application supported by , twoj medical' 'certificates. Within; 24 hours after the reception the- superintendent is to forward copies ; of the application and the certificates together with an expression of bis own . opinion concerning the,patient to the' Magistrate for. his decision. f.vT|e! MiMafe* said that probably tho most important clauses of the Bill were. : those dealing with the board which is to exercise- supervision over certain classes of meptally defective persona- s as lire?hot 'classified “persons. of nh-; - sound mind” or “persons mentally.'in-', - : firm.” ■ The board: is to eonsist of the Direc-tor-General of Health, the Director of ’ Education, the Controller-General of Prisons, a.medical officer of the Mental;; Hospitals’, Department, who . has had ; special psyejbiatrio training, onewoman, 1 and another appointee recommended.by social service organisations. For the last , two members the period of appointment, is for three yea^s. - The -bdard is' to be r charged with the compilation of a register of the names of a||l menially defective persons resident -in, New Zealand, who, not being of - nnsonhd mind or mentally' Inina, may ;be elassified as idiots, imbeciles, : feeble-minded; dr socially do*. ; fectiye. - *' School Children Batons. To assist in the compilation of the , register the Director of Edneitidn will he required to fnrniah returns of school children! suffering from retarded mental development, deficiency and disorders, ; fit epilepsy . The return is to include children, whose educational develop- ; meat is retarded to tho extent of' twe * years and more, and others whom he has rdasdh believe are not attending school because of epilepsy or other inentil: disease. 'C-Beturns'of a similar nature are to be forwarded by the: Controller-General of Prisons*.relating to mentally defective prisoners. ; Tke> board is to make inquiry before - . ; : adding a.name td the register and pro-, vision is made for appeal against regis-' t ration toaJudge of tho Supreme Court - ’in Chambers. •• v "There is also provision- for the wh moval of names when circumstances ad:■/ warrant; ' > Harrlsgerorblddtn. The ' marriage of registered persons ia to he prohibited:under the Bill, registrars of marriages being charged with the,, duty of refusing a cejrtiflcateto marry if 'they believe that either oi both of the applicants are on the register. 'J The penalty for an offence against this section is fixed at £IOO, and any ? person assisting to procure such a- mar- ( riage is liable. A duty is’also enjoined on the parsilts or guardian of such persons of imimediately notifying the registrar-if they learn that marriage of registered persons is contemplated. The Bill seeks to make it an indiefcable offence' to hive carnal knowledge of a girl or woman on the register and the duties, of parents, and guardians In this respect are set out. If the; Bill becomes law it will be art ;, offence punishable by a-dine of £SO to supply liuoy to meqntal defectives. ex*-. cept for medicinal purposes. - ' Sterilisation Anthertssd. Special homes may bo provided exclusively for the reception and : treatment :o£ registered persons; : If,/in''the public interest, it thinks it advisable to do so the board may authorise the sterilisation of registered . persons. The consent of parents or guardians is to be obtained in the caso - - of'minors, and of persons who are so mentally unfit as not to understand the nature and consequence of the operation- In all other cases the operation requires the, consent of the patient. '■ The final clauses of the BUI provide for the recognition of. social service . organisations and for contributions from the: State toward their expenses.