MARRIAGE FORBIDDEN

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10890, 18 July 1928, Page 5

MARRIAGE FORBIDDEN

N.Z.’S SOCIALLY DEFECTIVES CLASSIFICATION LIST TO BE KEPT. Electric Telegraph —Pre®s Association AVELLINGTON, Last Night. Care of mental defectives, based on the recommendations cif the 1924 Commission and the reports and suggestions of Dr. T. G. Gray. Inspec-tor-General of Alentai Hospitals, as a result of his recent trip abroad, is provided for in the Mental Defectives Amendment Bill read a- first time in the House to-day. The main provisions include the establishment of a Alentai Hospital’s Department as a separate Department of State, the creation of a new class of mentally defective persons to be known as the socially defective, the constitution of a special board to have control over certain classes of mentally defective persons, alternative procedure for tlie admission of patient-s to mental hospitals and the voluntary sterilisation of registered persons. Persons socially defective are defined in the Bill as those persons who suffer from mental deficiency associated with or manifested by antisocial conduct and who require supervision for their own protection, or in the public interest. The Minister of Health, the Hon. J. A. Young, when explaining the Bill, said that this classification really covered the oases of those who were feeble-minded, a very essential classification. Under the new legislation it will be permissible to have a patient accepted by a mental hospital on an aplication supported by two medical certificates. Within 24 hours after tlie reception the superintendent is to forward copies of the application and the certificates together with an expression of his own opinion concerning the patient to the Alaglstrate for his decision. The Alinister said that probably the most important clauses of the Bill were those dealing with the board which is to exercise supervision over certain classes of mentally defective persons as are not classified “persons of unsound mind” or “persons mentally infirm.” The board is to consist of tlie Di- | rector-General of Health, tlie Diroci tor of Education, the Controller-Gen-eral of Prisons, a medical officer of the Alentai Hospitals’ Department, who has had special psychiatric training, olio woman, and another appointee recommended by social service organisations. For the last two members the period of appointment is for three years. ’The board is to he charged with the compilation of a register of the names of all mentally defective persons resident in New Zealand, who, not being of unsound mind or mentally infirm, may bo classified as idiots, imbeciles, feeble-minded, epileptics, or socially defective. SCHOOL CHILDREN RETURNS. To assist in the compilation of the register the Director of Education will be required to furnish returns of school children suffering from retarded mental development, deficiency and disorders or epilepsy. The return is to include children whose educational development is retarded to the extent of two years end more, and others whom he has reason to believe are not attending school because of epilepsy or ctne* mental disease. Returns of a similar nature arc to be forwarded, by the Controller-Gen-eral of Prisons relating to mentally defective prisoners. The hoard is to make inquiry before adding a name to the register and provision is made for aippea* against registration to a Judge ol the Supremo Court in Chambers. There is also provision for the removal of names when circumstances SO' warrant. A LONG-NEEDED REMEDY. The marriage of registered persons is to be prohibited under the Bill, registrars of marriages being charged with the duty of refusing a certificate to marry if they believe that either or both of the applicants arc on the register. The penalty for n.» offence against this section is fixed at £IOO, and any person assisting to procure such a. marriage is liable. A duty is also l enjoined on the parents or guardian of such persons of immediately notifying the registrar if they learn that marriage of registered persons is contemplated. The Bill seeks to make it r.n indictable offence to have carnal knowledge of a girl or woman on the register and tlie duties of parents and guardians in this respect are set out. If the Bill becomes law it will be an offence punishable by a fine of £SO to supiy liquor to mental deifeettivos except for medicinal purposes. STERILISATION AUTHORISED. .Special homes may ho provided exclusively for the reception and treatment of registered persons. If, in the public, interest, it thinks it advisable to do so the board may authorise the sterilisation of registered persons. The consent of parents or guardians is to be obtained in the case of minors, and of persons vvj:o are so mentally unfit as not to understand the nature and consequence of the operation. In r.ll other cases the operation requires the consent ol the patient. The final clauses of the Bill provide for the recognition of social service organisations and for contributions from the State toward tlieir ex] lenses.