PROPAGATION OF THE UNFIT

Otago Witness, Issue 3581, 31 October 1922, Page 63

PROPAGATION OF THE UNFIT

STERILISATION URGED. CHRISTCHURCH, October 25. A suggestion that epileptics should be sterilised formed the subject of a- brief discussion at a meeting of the Canterbury Hospital Board to-day. Mr If. Horreli read a cablegram from London, recently published, in which it was stated that a judge of the Supreme Court, m sentencing an epileptic for a sexual crime expressed the opinion that epileptics should be sterilised in the interests of the community. Mr Horreli said that, judging by his experience as a member of the Benevolent Committee, a lot of children were being brought into the world who would be better unborn. They were a menace to society, and the matter should be gone into thoroughly by the medical profession. Dr I*. C. Fenwick said every doctor was in favour of the action suggested. They could do nothing, however, until women used their voting power, and effected legislation which would enable doctors to perform such operations. During the time when Mr Scddon was Prime Minister he had signed a request to the speaker to perform such an operation on a certain boy. The boy gave his consent, and the operation was carried out. Mr Seddon did a very fine tiling in permitting that operation, said Dr Fenwick It was a terrible thing that in this beautiful country doctors could not do anything to prevent (he propagation of the unfit, if judges would send every man convicted of sexual crime to an hospital for an operation instead of to gaol, the present evil in this connection would be banished from the country. Ihe matter was referred to the Hospital Committee to report, with a view to approaching the Government on the question.