MENTAL DEFECTIVES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 15 July 1924, Page 5

MENTAL DEFECTIVES

COMMISSION AT WELLINGTON (United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Mental Defectives Commission is sitting here. Col. Bray, of the Salvation Army, with 41 years’ experience in the Army’s social work in Alist- alia, said tho Army had had considerable experience with all forms oi degeneracy in persons of all ages. The causes of feeble-mindedness were sometimes difficult to explain. There was first the question of heredity and then the question of environment. Housing conditions certainly affected the latter cause. Knowledge acquired from polluted sources spoilt many young lives. The Army advocated that some national scheme should ho adopted for early detection and treatment of the feeble-minded, and also of those who were simply backward children on the lines suggested by Mr Caughley. Treatment should he given under the best conditions. A great deal of good might be done by teaching sex hygiene through nature study, carried on progressively. Such teaching should he given by medical men with known high moral and spiritual standards. Teachers could he trained to impart such lessons judiciously and such teachings should take place not onbr in State schools, hut in private and boarding schools. The teaching should not be obvious. The Army was of opinion that there was an increase of immorality among young people which knowledge of preventive measures obscured. The Army advocated the segregation of sexual perverts. Canon Feilden Taylor, Anglican, said there seemed to be a tendency to exaggerate moral degeneration. Tiro number of degenerates was comparatively few, and might he traced to other causes than sex. He believed two causes were absence of control at home and lack of inculcation of a ■sense of honour. He held that public lectures on se xsubjeets were unwise and private instruction dangerous. Parents must he held to their responsibility. Tho State could only do patchwork. Professor H. B. Kirk spoke of the possibility of improving the race by environment. It was clear a great majority of cases of feeble-mindedness vas inherited. The unfit should be rendered infertile. After hearing the opinion of Mr Y. S. Shell, juvenile probation officer, and J. Down, superintendent of the Waikato prison, the Mental Defectives Commission adjourned till to-morrow morning.