Mental Defectives and Sexual Offenders | Page 8

is clear when it is
stated that this branch of the family did not contain a single feeble-minded individual. It
was made up of doctors, lawyers, judges, educators, traders, and landholders.
New Zealand Cases.
But it is not necessary to go to the records of older countries to find examples of this kind.
Unfortunately, this young Dominion, whose history as a European settlement is
comprised within the lifetime of its oldest inhabitants, is already reproducing some of the
saddest problems of civilization which perplex the people of the Old World. We started
with every advantage in the shape of a favourable climate and rich natural resources. The
original settlers were, for the most part, men and women of sturdy determination,
enterprising spirit, and strong physique.
In the "seventies" a vigorous public-works policy was inaugurated, and great efforts were
made to introduce fresh population, the result being that undoubtedly a great impetus was
given to settlement, and the country was fairly started on the road to prosperity. But,
unfortunately, it is now only too apparent that insufficient care was taken in the selection
of immigrants.
The following extract from a statement made to the Committee by Sir Robert Stout, Chief
Justice, and President of the Prisons Board, illustrates this point: "The Prisons Board has

sometimes brought before it several persons of one family who have offended against our
laws, and in the experience I had in 1884 and 1885, when looking after our Hospitals and
Charitable Aid Department in the General Government, I found that people obtaining
charitable aid had done so for three generations; that is, grandfather, father or mother, and
children were all obtaining aid from the Government because they were unable to
maintain themselves. Some of the cases were traced, and it was found that the
grandfathers, or grandparents, had been originally in poorhouses in the Homeland, and
although they came to New Zealand and had greater opportunities than they had in their
Homeland, yet their inability to provide for themselves continued."
How serious the problem has already become will be seen from the following illustrative
cases selected from a large number given in the evidence:--
Case No. 1. +--------------------------------+ | Father: | Mother: | | Weak-minded. |
Weak-minded. | | | | +----------+----------+----------+ |Female, | |born 1906.| +----------+
|Female, | |born 1907.| +----------+ |Female, | |born 1908.| +----------+ |Female, | |born
1909.| +----------+ |Female, | |born 1911.| +----------+ |Male, | |born 1912.| +----------+
|Male, | |born 1913.| +----------+ |Male, | |born 1915.| +----------+ |Female, | |born 1916.|
+----------+
All these children except one are feeble-minded, and when committed to the care of the
State were found living under deplorable conditions. Most of these children will require
lifelong control in an institution. The total cost of maintaining this family will be
approximately £9,500. These children are cousins of another family under State control.
There are four children, two of whom are simple-minded. The mother is feeble-minded,
and the father died in a mental hospital. In this case the mothers of the children are
sisters.
Case No. 2. +----------------------------------+ | Father: | Mother: | | Feeble-minded. |
Feeble-minded | | | and drunkard. | | | | +---------+-------------+----------+ |Female, |
|illegitimate,| |born 1902. | +-------------+ |Male, | |born 1904. | +-------------+ |Male, | |born
1906. | +-------------+ |Male, | |born 1907. | +-------------+ |Male, | |born 1910. |
+-------------+ |Male, | |born 1912. | +-------------+ |Female, | |born 1914. | +-------------+
|Female, | |born 1916. | +-------------+ |Male, | |born 1918. | +-------------+ |Male, | |born
1920. | +-------------+ |Male, | |born 1923. | +-------------+
All these children are feeble-minded and have been brought under State control shortly
after birth. Some are now in mental hospitals and some in special schools. All these
children are lifelong custodial cases. The cost to the State for maintenance is
approximately £16,000, towards which amount the father has contributed but £6.
Case No. 3. +----------------------------------------------------+ | Father: | Mother: | | Old-age
pensioner in | Apparently weak mentally | | Home for Aged People. | and morally--at
present | | | in reformatory home. | | | |
+------------------+-------------------------+---------------------+ |1. Female. | Female, Female,
Male, | All these children | | Prostitute | born born born | are illegitimate. | | residing with |
1908. 1911. 1913. | Reputed father a | | drunkard. | | drunkard and man of | | | Male, | bad

character. | | | born 1915. | | +------------------+-------------------------+---------------------+ |2.
Female. | Male, Male, Female, | All these children | | Prostitute and | born born born | are
illegitimate. | | addicted to | 1907. 1910. 1912. | In most cases the | | drink. | | father is
unknown. | | | Male, Female, | | | | born 1914. born 1917. | |
+------------------+-------------------------+---------------------+ |3. Female.