MENTAL DEFECTIVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20271, 3 June 1929, Page 6

MENTAL DEFECTIVES.

ACTIVITIES OF THE^BOARb. PROPERTY CHRIST CHURCH. The work of tho newly-formed Mental Defectives Board is beginning to take definite form. An area of 310 acres in tho Templeton district, south of Christchurch, has been transferred from the Mental Hospitals Department to tho board for its administration, and members of the board paid a visit of inspection to tho property last Tuesday. Two villas are being established tliero as residential schools&Ior the mentally backward and the second of these is now in course of erection. Each is designed to accommodate 48 residents in four openair dormitories, and tho buildings are being equipped with every comfort and convenience.' It is proposed to give various types of farm training to the scholars there, and tho design of the buildings will enable them to bo classified according to their special needs. The sita is a beautiful one offering every facility for recreation, and the villas will doubtless 'in time develop into a small model village. The board is engaged just now on collecting all data to show what is actually being done in tho Dominion for mental and social defectives, and Dr. T. G. Gray, the chairman, expects soon to have a full outline of the board's policy prepared. It will not be long before tho establishment at Templeton is completed and x'eady for use.