MENTAL DEFECTIVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18762, 16 July 1924, Page 12

MENTAL DEFECTIVES.

SALVATION ARMY'S STAND.

PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION.

fBY XELEGEAFH.—PBE33 ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The Mental Defectives Commission sat here to-day.

j Colonel firay, of the Salvation Aitny, with 41 years' experience in> the Army's social work in Australasia, said the Army had had considerable experience with all forms of degeneracy in persons of all ages. 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 lattar cause. Knowledge acquired from polluted sources spoilt many young lives, The Army advocated that some national scheme should be adopted for early detection and treatment of feoble-mmdedness, and also of those who were simply backward children, on lines suggested by Mr. Caughley. Treatment should be given under the best conditions. A great deal of good might bs don© by teaching sex hygiene through nature study, carried on progressively, but such teaching should be given by medical men with known high morals and spiritual standards. Teachers could be trained to impart such lessons judiciously, and such teaching should take place not only in State schools, but in private and boarding schools. The Army was of opinion that there was an increase of immorality among young people. The Army advocated segregation of sexual perverts. Canon Fielden Taylor (Anglican) said there seemed to be a tendency to exaggerate moral degeneration. The number of degenerates was comparatively few, and might be traced to other causes than sex. / He believed two causes were the absence of control at home and the lack of inculcation of a sense of honour. He held that public lectures on sex subjects were unwise, and private instruction dangerous. Parents must be held to their responsibility. The State could only do patchwork. Professor H. B. Kirk spoke of the possibility of improving tho race by environment. It was clear that the great majority of cases of • feeblemindedness were inherited. The unfit should bo rendered unfertile.

After hearing the opinions of Mr. F. S. Shell (Juvenile Probation Officer) and Mr. J. Down (Superintendent of the Waitako Prison for Mental Defectives), the commission adjourned.