NELSON REMITS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 14 January 1937, Page 6

NELSON REMITS

FOR HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

REPRODUCTION BY PHYSICALLY

AND MENTALLY UNFIT

AGREEMENTS WITH MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONS The Nelson Hospital “oard decided at its monthly meeting to forward the following two remits to the forthcoming New Zealand Hospital Board’s Association conference: — “That the Government be asked to amend the law with a view to preventing the physically or mentally unfit from reproducing their kind, and so safeguard the general health of the people of the Dominion.” “That Hospital Boards do not enter into any agreements with medical associations connected with the Public Works Department as members of such associations should be in a position to pay the very reasonable rates at present charged by hospital boards.”

The chairman (Major R. Dagger) pointed out that the Nelson Board last year did not send remits as other boards had forwarded remits on the subjects which the local Board wished to have discussed. However a remit regarding sterilisation of the unfit had been withdrawn, leaving the Nelson delegate without a remit to speak to. He then moved that the two remits be forwarded.

Mr J. Fitz-Gerald said he did not agree with either. They were both very controversial subjects and the other side had to be given consideration. He was a little afraid of the former.

The chairman said the fact that it was a controversial subject showed that it was a matter which should be taken up. An evil existed in the unfit reproducing and no action was being taken to remedy it. The Government was shirking any action and if such remits were not presented nothing would be done. The Government had an Horticultural Department and an Agricultural Department, which advised .the public on the best methods of obtaining better results from crops and in the breeding of stock, but advice concerning the improvement in the standard of humans was lacking. Mr N. McConochie said he agreed with the chairman’s contentions. The motion was seconded and carried.