SHOCKING CASES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17343, 16 July 1924, Page 7

SHOCKING CASES.

HEREDITARY DISEASE. BREEDING DEFECTIVES. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 16. The commission on mental defectives sat again to-day. Dr D. K. Fenwick, representing the British Medical Association, said that by far til© most important element in the causation of mental deficiency was heredity. This was iar more important than association or environment. The most important point, therefore, was the prevention of the breeding of mental defectives and degenerates. The chief aim was to prevent the marriage or intercourse of people likely to produce mental defectives. Sterilisation would prevent propagation, but not further offences of sexual degeneracy. The problem of segregation was extremely difficult, but it might bo tackled in come manner. The instruction of children in sex hygiene was entirely parental and the Medical Association was quite against instruction in tho mass. Personally, he thought any child under fifteen was too young to receive such instruction. Undoubtedly confirmed sexual perverts should be segregated as a danger to the community. lie believed that a certificate of mental and physical health should be required of persons before marriage. The chief questions should relate to parentage, venereal disease and nervous- disorder. Mrs Glover, probation officer and prison visitor for the Salvation Army, quoted some shocking cases of heredity and its results. She did not think it would do any good to teach children collectively. The teaching should be individual, for no cases were alike. Miss Jean Begg, Education Department, quoted the success of the State institutions for feeble-minded in New York. She emphasised the great importance of the study of each individual case and advocated the training of teachers ior the direct training of individual defectives, the complete census of defectives and a travelling clinic to deal with cases. Miss Begg advocated dealing with unregulated dance halls by the institution of proper regulations and supervision. Mr Blight, on behalf of the New Zealand White Cross League, said that he did not think that there was any reason why teachers of simple truths to promote sex purity should have medical training. Up to the age of twelve years the talk should be simply on conduct, with a plea for chivalry. To tho older children a clear statement should be given by one of their own sex. The tendency on the part of most people was to make a mountain out of a mole’s hill in regard to the teaching of sex purity to the young. He held that on the whole the parents were not the best people to give their children sex instruction. This concluded the work of the commission, as far as taking formal evidence is concerned.