SAD HUMAN DOCUMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3713, 12 May 1925, Page 5

SAD HUMAN DOCUMENT.

MEXTAL DEFECTIVES AXD SEXUAL OFFENDERS.

REPORT AND FINDINGS OF COMMIT TEE OF INQUIRY.

The Committee of Inquiry appointed by the Minister of Health to investigate and report upon the necessity Tor special c^r e and treatment of mental defectives and sexual offenders in New Zealand, has completed the report of its findings, which are of intense interest to the dominion, and is now released for publication. The committee sat at Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton. Waikeria, New Plymouth, Otekaike, Dunedin, Invercargill, Christchurch, Levin, and Nelson, met on 35 days, heard 92 witnesses, visited 14 institutions, and. spent many long hours in * travelling. The whole report may be described as an intensely human document, of paramount importance to the general health and welfare of the community, and the findings will possibly find a reflex—if not in the next session of Parliament—in the near future.

The following is a condensed story of the report and findings of the Committee of Inquiry, which comprised the Hon. W. H. Triggs (chairman), feir Donald M‘Gavin, Sir Iruby King, Dr J. S. Elliott (chairman, New Zealand Branch, B.M.A), Dr Ada Paterson, Air C. E. Matthews (Con-troller-General of Prisons), and Mr J. Beck (officer in charge, Special Schools Branch, Education Department). The function and duty laid upon the committee was to inquire and report (1) as to the necessity for special care and treatment of the feeble-minded arid subnormal, and to propose the general means by which such care and treatment, if any, snould be provided; (2) the necessity for the treatment of mental degenerates and persons charged with sexual offences, and to recommend forms of treatment for the Various types of cases. The first part is ‘‘lntroductory and Historical,” and says for a considerable time there has been a growing feeling of anxiety among the public owing to the number of mental defectives becoming a charge upon the State, and also the alarming increase in their numbers through the uncontrolled fecundity of this clasfc. Owing to the frequency of sexual offences, many of a most revolting character, there was a strong demand that some action should be taken to prevent further aefs of this nature; it being suggested that the law should be altered to make it possible for surgical operations to be performed upon these offenders.

The questions submitted to the committee were separate and distinct from each other. It is far from correct to suppose that all feeble-minded persons are sexual offenders, or that all sexual offenders are mentally defective. On the contrary, among sexual offenders of the worst type are occasionally found to be persons possessing intellectual and artistic powers above the average. There is something wrong in their mental, moral, and emotional balance, but as a rule it is not the “intelligent quotient” which is at fault. * The committee it of opinion that the unrestricted multiplication of feeble-minded members of the community is a most, serious menace to the future welfare and happiness of the dominion, and it is of the utmost importance that some means of meeting the peril should be adopted without delay. The position is the more serious because, while the feeble-minded are extraordinarily prolific there is a growing tendency among the more intellectual classes for the birth-rate to become restricted.

The possible effects of the marriage of two feeble-minded persons or a feebleminded with an healthy person are dealt with.

The forcible and far-reaching report of the late Dr Duncan M‘Gregor (Inspectorgeneral of Asylums) shorts clearly that some very degenerate stocks Imported into this country under the active immigration policy of the seventies and eighties were already threatening'—3s years ago—to become a serious tax on the country, as well as tending to lower the high physical, mental, and moral standard established- by the original pioneers and settlers. Succeeding pages deal with such factors as environment, pre-natal and post-natal care of mother and child, by due attention to which an infinity of good could be done and had been done; the housing problem; prevalence of wrong feeding habits; fresh air in home and school; exercise, and “the highly-injurious practice of frequenting picture shows.” In the last 20 years the younger members of the community have been spending a steadily-increasing portion of their time, during the most impressionable period of life, in what are liable to prove forcinghouses of sexual precocity and criminal tendencies. There is every reason for regarding the habit of “going to the pictures.” without adequate restrictions, as contributing seriously to precocious sexuality, and also to weakening the powers of inhibition and self-control in other direc-tions-distinctive attributes of the higher human being. The committee sympathises with proposals (1) for stricter censorship of films, picture posters, handbills, etc.; (2) regulations as to age of admission when unaccompanied by responsible adult and to pictures not pronounced by censor as suitable for children; (3) proper safeguards for morals of children and young persons within picture theatres, and adequate supervision of premises.

Mental disabilities resulting from diseases such as syphilis, or toxic influences such as alcohol and drugs, have not been particularly dealt with having been covered to sorno extent by the report of the Venereal Diseases Committee.

SADDEST PROBLEMS OF CIVILISA TTON.

Distressing and almost incredible cases of horodilnry degeneracy are quoted, with the addition: ‘‘Unfortunately, this young dominion, whose history as a European settlement is comprised within the lifetime of its oldest inhabitants, is already reproducing some of its saddest problems of civilisation which perplex the people of th& Old World. The original Settler* were, for the most part, men and Women of sturdy determination, enterprising spirit, and strong physique. ‘‘ln the seventies a vigorous public works policy was inaugurated, and great efforts

were made to introduce fresh population, the result being that a great impetus was given to settlement. It is now only too apparent that insufficient care was taken in the selection of immigrants.” Dominion cases are quoted, each revealing a terrible tragedy of marriage, reproduction, crime, and imprisonment, of feeble-minded persons, while the children have invariably become a burden upon the State to a degree of which few of the public generally have any conception. One case is sufficient to quote an example Father feebleminded ; mother feeble-minded and drunkard; 11 children in 21 years; all feeble-minded and brought under State control shortly after birth; now in mental hospitals or special schools; lifelong custodial cases; cost to State approximately £16,000; father’s contribution, £6. The problem of dealing with feebleminded and subnormal children is covered at some length, with special schools for some and institutional care for others. In the absence of a complete system of notification estimates as to the number of feeble-minded to be dealt with is largely a matter of conjecture. The table shows u number of children making normal progress in school, those making less thou normal progress and those exceeding normal progress. TRAGEDY OF THE CHILDREN. The most arresting feature is the large number of children in classes lower than should be expecte:] at their age. Preparatory classes had-12,693 pupils over the age of eight years, 18 per cent, of the total roll of those classes. Retardation is also referred to the element of danger in relying exclusively on mental tests, ana methods of dealing with mental defectives in New Zealand. There seems to be considerable reluctance both on the part of medical practitioners to certify, and of magistrates to commit to a mental hospital epileptics, and those described as feeble-minded. There would not be the same disinclination to send them to a farm or industrial colony.

The committee speaks favourably of the work done in special classes in public schools, and “were impressed with the sympathetic attitude of the teachers towards the scholars and the happy appearance of the children.”

In the matter of the admission of young offenders over 16 years of age to the Caversham Industrial School, and also to the I.oys’ Training Farm at Weraroa, the committee found that in these cases the courts have no authority to commit direct, but must first sentence the young person to imprisonment, and then recommend transfer to an industrial school. Such a system is not only cumbersome, but fundamentally wrong, and should lie remedied as soon as possible. Committees should have discretionary powers.

ITje matter of children's committees is reported in another column.

Then comes the paragraph already quoted on ‘policy ior the future,” under which a comprehensive .system of notification is strongly urged, and the proposal for a Eugenic Board is approved, with the sug gestioii that such cases should as far as possible be kept free from courts and should be dealt with by a board of experts. A trained and experienced psychiatrist should be appointed, for various departments of the Government are suffering from the lack of expert advice in ihis direction. * Man iages with registered persons should be made illegal. STERILISATION PRACTICABLE.

Sterilisation is reviewed from both sides at- seme length with the conclusion that “it is certainly practicable, and is as likely to be favoured as opposed by public opinion, especially that section that understands the difference between sterilisation and desexualisation. . . . Sterilisation in suitable cases is not a high price to pay for liberty.” It is recommended that certain powers in this and other respects should be given to the Eugenic Board. Segregation as a solution is touched upon in various aspects. Under the heading of “immigration” the committee feels strongly that any attempt to check the multiplies tion of mental defectives in the dominion will to a large extent be labour thrown away if the greatest care is not at the same time taken to prevent the introduction of feeble-minded and other undesirable persons from overseas. Constant vigilance is neces sary at the present time when the volume of immigration is greatly increased owing to the condition of affairs in the Mother Country. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS. The committee finds:— 1. Unchecked multiplications is leading to continually growing addition to sum of human misery, ever increasing burden on State, and serious deterioration of race. 2. Would be sound economy as well as in best interests of humanity, to deal with problem at cnce, even though involving substantial expenditure. The committee recommends:— 1. Addition to Act of “moral imbecile.” a definition in English Act 2. Establishment of special branch Mental Hospitals Department to deal with mental defectives not inmates of mental hospitals, and to act as “after care” department to look after patients discharged from mental hospitals. 3. Appointment of Eugenics Board. 4. Registration under direction of the board.

5. Care of backward; and feeble-minded children in educational stage to remain duty of Education Department 6. Education Department to obtain services of psychological experts in connection with study of individual children in school. 7. Fuller provision in universities and colleges for education of teachers in child psychology and training for work in special schools.

8. Full use of residential special schools for cases not benefiting by special classes, but* capable of training in manual work or handicrafts.

9. Education Department to report to Eugenic Board on cases not benefiting from residence in special schools, such children to be registered if deemed neoessary. 10. Eugenio Board to have power to order removal of feeble-minded and moral imbeciles to farm or industrial colony. 11. Right of appeal against registration, etc.

12. Establishment of farm or Industrial colonies for such cases as may be profitably employed. 13. Sterilisation. Operation in men oon he carried out under local anaesthesia and is free from risk. > Annlagous operation in women in abdominal operation, but risk not considered serious. In oases of persons who in their own interests and interests of others ought r.ot to be allowed to reproduoe: operation of sterilisation should be considered by Eugenio Board.

14. Eugenic Board to have power to make sterilisation a condition of release, or removal of name from register, but in no case should operation be performed without consent of parents or guardians 15. Person* operated upon to bo released on probation under supervision, and if relapse is shown to be returned to institutional case at discretion of borad.

16. Marriago with registered persons to lie made illegal, and -mould be indictable offence to have carnal knowledge of registered person. 17. Further precautions in the way ot inquiry and supervision over assisted immigrants and ordinary passengers. SEXUAL OFFENDERS. The committee then deals with part two of the order of reference, sexual offenders. Evidence and reports in press and elsewhere offer sufficient proof of necessity for some drastic amendment of the law on lines suggested by Prisons Board. In May, the number of sexual offenders in prison in the dominion was 185. or 17.27 per cent, of all prisoners then in custody. Percentage has since been increased by recent commitments of cases of the most serious types. In five years 1919-23 there were 331 persons sentenced in Supreme Court for sexual offences \ arious types of sexual offences are mentioned and remedies which have been suggested, including indeterminate sentences, segregation, institutional treatment, detention in farm reformatory prisons, sterilisation, and desexualisation. The increase of sexual offences during recent years and the disgust felt by all normally disposed people when contemplating cases of sexual perversion and assault upon young children, have created a strong publio opinion in favour of dealing with these offences as radically as circumstances will permit.

The report sets out as clearly as is possible the result of such operations and its deductions as to the probability of the achievement of the result desired. As in proportion of cases of sexual perversion the tendency is hereditary the operation would tend to restrict numbers of individuals m community afflicted in this manner. _ In cases of the worst type the indeterminate sentence would doubtless resolve itself into* detention for life. At all costs the women and children of the community must be protected against this class of offender. In proceeding to summary of findings the committee says the requirements of the position are fairly well covered by the terms of the Prisons Board resolution. RECOMMENDATIONS.

The committee recommended: (1) Amendment of Crimes Act, giving court full discretion whether sentences shall be definite or inderterminate.

(2) Prisons Board to have power of recommendation for release upon probation or discharge of prisoners under indeterminate sentences as they now have in regard

to other prisoners. (3) Appointment of psychiatrist to advise Prisons Department. (4) Prisons Board to be advised by Eugenic Board as to release or discharge of sexual or feeble-minded offenders. (5) The committee feel that information at present available in regard to sterilisation or desexualisation of sexual offenders is inadequate to permit of sound and final judgment as to value of procedure, and recommend whole question be remitted for careful investigation by Eugenic Board proposed to be set up. PAINFUL AND DEPRESSING TASK. In conclusion the committee gays: “The work has be,en of a painful and depressing character. We need not refer to the depth of human degradation, and the revolting pathological details which had to be explored in dealing with the second order of reference, beyond saying that the witnesses who faced the unpleasant task of giving evidence deserve tlie thanks of the public for discharging what they evidently felt to be a public duty. Feeble-minded: The most saddening experience was the sight of so many children deprived of their full share of the light of reason, often maimed and stunted in body as well as in intellect. The eight was made sadder still by the reflection that unless prompt ana effective action is taken the multiplication of these degenerates will increase, and the race will steadily deteriorate. “New Zealand is a young country already exhibiting some of the weaknesses of much older nations, but it is not at the stage where, if its people are wise, they may escape the worst evils of the Old World. It has rightly been decided that this should be not cnly a ‘white man’s country,’ but as completely British as possible. We ought to make every effort to keep the stock sturdy and strong as well as racially pure. n these beautiful and richlydoweied islands we nave a noble heritage—to be in keeping, and to ensure the development of lheir resources and enjoyment of their blessings the inhabitants should be of the highest type obtainable by human effort.

“This is the lesson which has been impressjd upon the minds of the committee during its investigations, and they have been sustained in their saddening experience by the hope that this lesson will be taken to heart by both the Parliament and the people of the dominion.” The appendix contains the late Dr M‘Gregor’s report on “Past Mistakes in Immigration,” other special reports, and tables of sentences imposed and family records.