SAMOAN AFFAIRS DISCUSSED

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10892, 20 July 1928, Page 5

SAMOAN AFFAIRS DISCUSSED

LABOUR AMENDMENT DEFEATED YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS. A long and at times warm debate on a coded wireless message received in New Zealand in March as to the State of affairs then current in Samoa was the feature of yesterday’s proceedings in the House of Representatives. The Labour Opposition erroneously attributed the message to the Administrator and moved an amendment of censure on the Government for having allowed it to come through. The amendment was defeated by 44 votes to 10. This discussion and the tabling of the annual reports concerning tlie administrea'tion of the mandate, together with a few minor statutory reports, occupied the House for the whole of the afternoon. In the evening the Orchard and Garden Diseases Bill, a consolidation measure, was read a second time, and the House then proceeded to the second reading of the Mental Defectives’ Amendment Bill. The Preferential Voting Bill, introduced by Mr J. McCombs (Lyttelton), was read a first time. The House adjourned at 11.20 p.m. FEEBLE-MINDED - PARENTS. The. Hon. J. A. Young. Minister of Health, then moved the second reading of the Mental Defectives’ Amendment Bill. He said the object of the Bill was to bring the Mental Hospital Department into line with modern thought. The Bill abolished the office of inspector-general of mental defectives, the new title being director-general of mental hospitals. The term “mentally defective person” is extended to mean one who suffers from mental deficiency associated with or manifested by anti-

social conduct, and who requires supervision tor his own protection or - fir the public interest. Alternative procedure for the admission of patients to mental hospitals provides .that a request may be made to the superintendent of mental hospitals for admission of a person. The superintendent may act on this request provided it is supported by certificates of two doctors and that a period of seven days after the/ making of the request has not elapsed. This procedure is, however, subject to review by a magistrate. The Minister stressed the importance of mental patients being subjected to treatment on the first sign Of the malady, since when taken in hand early a cure was often possible. Hie Minister then dealt with procedure provisions as has already appeared m these columns. To show importance of the precautions of the Bill the Minister quoted cases of six families in New Zealand produced by feeble-minded parents. The children were a life-long charge upon the State at an enorcous cost. Special institutions may be provided for the we ration 0 f registered defectives and the board may also authorise

the sterilisation of anv person, but only upon consent, . this consent being given by the person concerned or the parent or guardian. Proposals regarding sterilisation were based on the recommendation of a committee set up hv Sir Maui Pomare in 1924. Societies recognised by the Minister may receive grants from Parliament to enable them to carry out their work of ameliorating the conditions of mentally defective persons. After explaining the Bill clause by clause the Minister stated it was intended to refer the Bill to the committee which could take evidence The Bill did not go so far as the committee set up in 1924 nor as far as Dr Gray desired it to go. But tlie Government thought it was best to put all their cards on the table in order to get a full expression of public opinion upon its provisions. It was not a party measure and in that spirit he submitted it to the House. When read a second time be wotild ask to have it referred to the Public Health Committee. . In response to requests from the Leader of the Opposition the Prime Minister agreed to adjourn* the debate until to-morrow and the House rose at 11.20 till 2.30 to-morrow.