MENTAL DEFECTIVES BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3316, 7 September 1911, Page 2

MENTAL DEFECTIVES BILL.

THE COUNCIL'S DELIBERATION. 1

PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS CRITICISED. U’t" naESB ASSOCIATION.! WELLINGTON, Sept. 6. The Council met at 2.30 p.m., when Sir J. G. Findlay officially announced the retirement of Mr. G. Fowlds, and the acceptance of that Minister’s resignation by the Governor. He expressed regret at the severance of official relations with the Hon. gentleman, with whom he had been associated for some years. The Wanganui School Sites Amendment Bill was read a second time. Sir J. G. Findlay moved the second reading of the Mental Defectives Bill received from the Lower House, explaining proposals of the Bill at considerable length. Hon. J. Rigg took exception to the provision of tlie Bill referring to the .licensing of institutions. He contended that mental defectives should be directly under the care of the State, and that it was undesirable to send mentally defective persons to private institutions conducted for profit. .The benefits derivable from public hospitals were superior to those of private institutions. Under the Bill large private institutions would spring up all over the State, and he asked whether it was intended to fix the burden on the community rather than on the State. If so, he was sorry for it. Many of the mental defectives were well "able to do work of various kinds, and this work would add to the profits of private institutions. The debate was at this stage adjourned and the Council rose.