Abstract

11, That the Conmonweal th Government has introduced in the Senate a bill to authorise mental institution benofits. This will bring mental hospital patients onto tho same basis as general public hospital patients. The proposal is that the Commonwealth should pay the states tho equivalent fees received from tho estates and relatives of pntiants end in return the states would remove all charges for such patients. Private mental hospitals would be brought under the hospital benefits scheme. Toot the Chief Oommissioner of Police, Mr. DunCrol, in his annual report listed the following causes of child delinquency compiled from routine police questionnaires: home and family relations .. 60% Lack of control due to defective !ad companions end associations 20% Convicted or anti-social parents - 15% Other causes 5~ Preventive measures suggested by the Police inc1udo: Education of parents in their responsibilities. Attention to full and profitable occnpetion of children's leisure timo. Intellectual and vocational guidance of children. Extension of club andcommu.nity centres for youth a.ctivities. Th£l.t Mrs. rewne Churchland has been appointed Welfare Organiser to the Federated Iron Workers t .A.ssociat~on. This is the first appointment of a. social worker to a .union end the work has a group-work emphasis.