SEXUAL PERVERTS

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11873, 5 July 1924, Page 5

SEXUAL PERVERTS

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ! EXPERIENCE OF MR HAWKINS, INSPECTOR OF PRISONS. “SOME OASES INCURABLE.” ! Per Press Association. > INVERCARGILL, July 4. * Hi© Commission appointed by -he State to consider matters in c-.nnee tion with the care and treatment of 1 mental defective, sexual perverts and 1 feeble-minded children held a sitting at Invercargill yesterday afternoon, the 1 Hen, W. H. Triggs, M.L.C., presiding. 1 Four witnesses were heard, their evidence, with one exception, being on ’ eimilai lines to that already (riven in other centres. “ROOT OF THE TROUBLE.” Air M. Hawkins, inspector of prisons , and superintendent of the" Borstal In ! stitution, Said that from forty years experience lie was of the opinion that- ■ the root cause of much of the trouble i regarding sexual matters: was the lack ; of proper appreciation of the reepousi- ! bilities devolving upon the public, the parents and teachers, not forgetting the churches of the present day. To : this failure he attributed much of the increase in sexual crime which latterly had become increasingly apparent.- A j good deal had been heard lately about the necessity for imparting knowledge; dealing with sex to young people, and his experience had led him to beiie re that the question fairly bristled with difficulties. Placed in the Wrong hanas ■ such teaching had resulted in much harm being done, and only a fully: qualified medical man should be allow- ■ ed to deal with such matters. CLASSIFICATION ■ NECESSARY. To bo successful in dealing with sexual offenders a system of exact classification and treatment of the various types of perverts was absolutely neces-; sary, and for this the services, of a ’ trained expert were essential. Tbs Britons Department had endeavoured to do something by way of classification in sending the worst types of perverts to one institution especially set apart for that purpose. That, however, was not enough. Two types of perverts were to be found in tho prisons. Firstly those who yielded to sudden temptation and assaulted women or young female children sometimes under circumstances exhibiting extreme brutality. Yet in the majority of such oases the offenders were curable under a proper system of treatment, and it was seldom that they again offended. The real sexual pervert, however, who was continually tampering with young children was dir ferent, as was also the case where young boys were the victims. Strange as it might seem, there were quite a number of such degenerates in the prisons to-day, middle-aged and elderly men being the chief offenders of this class. ‘'SEGREGATION FOR LIFE.” In witness’s opinion segregation fot life was the only course, and many years of experience had convinced him of that Operative treatment was, he believed, out of the question, and .if followed would result, in some oases, in the person operated upon becoming, insane through constant mooding over what be would consider an Injustice, whilst in others the resentment oeca sioned would probably result in them wreaking vengeance upon those responsible. “NEVER SEEN A COMPLETE CURE.” Personally, he had never yet seen a complete-cure in the case of a real sexual pervert. Sexual perversion amongst young girls, undoubtedly ex isted to a considerable extent, bnt yet there Was a remarkable difference in degree. Some cases could by proper treatgient be improved, . but others again were hopeless whom nothing could cure, and. such should be entirely segregated for life as they were a distinct menace. Heredity, in tome cases, was to be blamed, but a good percentage were the children of par ents of a like type who, having been deserted had become ' wards of the State and had been brought up in, institutions where little was done- towards eradicating their evil tendencies. As a result a very large percentage sf both youths and young girls addicteu to sexual depravity, come from industrial schools and other institutions un der State control. “MENACE TO' SOCIETY.” It was certainly a hard thing to say, but, after his long experience amongst criminal sexual perverts, he , had no hesitation in stating that, once a matt or woman had been proved to be incapable of restraining their sexual impulses, then at once they became a menace to society, and they should he segregated where they could do no further harm. In saying that, he re, ferred to those cases which were hopeless, and of which there were many in the prisons of the Dominion. Years of imprisonment, to his own personal knowledge, had, however, failed to do any good whatever. His own idea was to treat them kindly, give them useful work, and make their lives as pleasant as possible, but never to let them loose on society. Again, even if this were done, the trouble with such individuals was by no means ended, as, if it was intended to prevent them following their tendencies, constant and unremitting supervision would be necessary. The average citizen had not the slightest conception of the utter depths of depravity to which a confirmed male, sexual pervert would descend, and instances of such had occurred in spite of the most stringent precautions. “NOT FIT TO LIVE l” Many men were not fit to live, but it had to be remembered that, in many instances, the evil tendencies had keen inherited, while in others environment, had played a prominent part. In the case of female perverts, heredity and environment played a more prommem, part than was -the case where males were In reply to a question by Sir Donald ' AloGaVin, the witness said he was not . in favour of sex instruction being given J to Children in a class. In One instance he knew where such' a course had had a very undesirable result. He was convinced that from the experience ' at the Borstal that the confining of the , lectures -by qualified medical men jto sexual matters was, not wise, because ' too much attention could be directed towards the sexual, question. It was > found to be much better to deal with the whole question of the functions of , the body. He had found many instances in the course of his duties ' where many young men had yielded to J sudden temptation and committed meet ' horrible - offences. “VOLUNTARY OPERATION SUIP- ' PORTED.” i To Mr Matthews, witness expressed i tile opinion that it would be a wise pro- < vision if operative means were resorted 1 to in cases where the individuals con- 1 cerned had expressed, their willingness i to undergo such treatment. Another ( point that had impressed him strongly <

was that, whereas the worst offenders in the earliest days were elderly people, the position to-day was that the young people wore the real culprits. To Dr Paterson, Mr Hawkins said he believed very little could be done by tho State in the matter of instructing young people during adolescence. To Mr Beck, the witness expressed his conviction that separate institutions were necessary for the treatment of the different classes'of sexual offenders. Such homes should be established m country / centres.» The chairman: Do you agree with the view that the expenses in segregating patients would be heavy. Mr Hawkins: Yes; that is my view also, but I personally believe it would be a sound -business proposition. Evidence was also given by Mr Thomas MoOarroll, juvenile probation officer for Southland; Mr Thomas Pryde, secretary oFThe Hospital Board; and Mr Archibald H. MoLean, a social worker, on individual cases which had come under their notice.

The Oominisaion returns to Dunedin by the morning express, and in the afternoon visits the Caversbam Home. On Monday further evidence will he heard, and on Tuesday th© members leave for Christchurch, where a sitting will be held the following day. TJie Commission returns to Wellington ,to consider its report.