MENTAL DEFECTIVES

Southland Times, Issue 22471, 6 November 1934, Page 8

MENTAL DEFECTIVES

A JUDGE’S DIFFICULTY.

(Per United Press Association.)

Wellington, November 5.

Difficulties in the way of dealing with a prisoner resulting from what he said seemed to him to be serious defects in the Mental Defectives Act 1911 in its relation to the Crimes Act, were mentioned by the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, in the Supreme Court to-day when a Maori woman was placed in the dock for sentence on a charge of arson. Mr Macassey, Crown Prosecutor, said the woman was in the dock for sentence.

Sir Michael Myers stated he was told on Friday that she was not fit to come up for sentence, and to-day she was. Evidence was given by Dr Williams, Superintendent of the Porirua Mental Hospital that the woman’s condition varied very quickly. The Chief Justice said he did not think accused should be sent to prison and admitted her to probation for 12 months, thus placing the responsibility for her welfare on the authorities.

Mr Macassey said application would be made for the woman’s committal to <i mental institution.

Sir Michael Myers, remarking that if the woman was commitable under the Mental Defectives Act, he had no. power to commit her. As he had said, the responsibility for her being looked after must rest with the authorities.