PROBLEM OF THE UNFIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21967, 26 November 1934, Page 12

PROBLEM OF THE UNFIT

RAISING PRESENT STANDARD HOSPITAL CHAIRMAN'S VIEWS [by telegraph—press association] NELSON, Saturday Sterilisation, as a means of preventing the "propagation of the unfit," was suggested by Major Dagger, chairman of the Nelson Hospital Board, in an address to members of the Nelson Rotary Club. Major Dagger said the cost of the upkeep of general hospitals had become alarming, and the outlay upon mental institutions had been enormous. The maintenance of general hospitals by moans of a levy upon local rating bodies and the Consolidated Fund camo before the people, who could readily make a protest against what they might consider extravagant or careless administration, but the maintenance of mental institutions, being a Government department solely, did not come under the review of public opinion to the same extent. The Mental Hospitals Department appeared to be a, law unto itself, and it was a tragic fact that expenditure in this direction was increasing by leaps and bounds, and it would continue to do so unless something were done. After his years of experience on the Hospital Board, said Major Dagger, ho had come to the conclusion that much required to be done to arrest the very rapid deterioration of the standard of human fitness. During the Great War it was found that an appalling number of human beings were unfit. The fit were slaughtered in millions, but the unfit remained at homo to multiply and replenish the earth. It was this multiplication of the unfit that was tho great danger, and it was not receiving the attention it warranted.

"Naturally you may ask me what is my remedy," said Major Dagger, "but the matter is of such vital importance that no satisfactory answer will bo available until it has been thoroughly investigated by a competent authoritative body. Personally, I am convinced a remedy can be found, .and surely it is not beyond the powers of Parliament, guided by the best medical and legal advice, to frame tho necessary procedure. Hitler, with all his faults, has been bold enough to devise legislation for remedying the evil by means of sterilisation. It may bo argued that there would be great dangers in administering a law in regard to sterilisation, but if such dangers did exist—and I doubt it—these would bo infinitesimal compared with the great dangers which we are allowing to make headway under present conditions."