OUR FEEBLE-MINDED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25456, 10 February 1944, Page 6

OUR FEEBLE-MINDED

Sir, —The recent suicide of a feebleminded boy raises the question: "Is New Zealand doing the best possible for her citizens of this peculiarly helpless class? ” They are not imbecile, nor insane; but their intelligence remains childish throughout life, the condition being seemingly incurable. They are generally very affectionate, docile, and Industrious, but also especially dependent on understanding, love and companionship. Where friends can supply these, as well as planning and safeguarding, all may go well; but otherwise, our feeble-minded adults may easily become the victim of bad people, or of their own unguided impulses, and fall Into crime. Attackers of children often belong to this class; and then ours is the guilt, for neglecting their own welfare. At present we appear to give (some) help "only till adolescence. Could we not, like America, let our feebleminded live together in a little “ colony ” of their own, among their equals, farm, factory and their own labour giving support? ' We see the need of special care for our blind, and our physically-crippled; why not also for our mental cripples, our feeble-minded?—l am etc., B. E. Baughan. Akaroa, February 7.