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Provision is also made under the Act for the care of defectives
convicted of crime of sufficient gravity to be punished by imprisonment
in the case of an adult or committal to an industrial school in the case
of a child. In such cases the court may direct that a petition be
presented in the ordinary way ; or the court, in the case of a child,
may make an order at once for the defective to be sent to an institution
or placed under guardianship.
A defective already undergoing imprisonment may be sent to an
institution on the certification of two doctors.
The defective must be sent to an institution within fourteen days
of the order being made. An order that a defective be placed under
guardianship confers on the guardian the same powers as if he were
the father of the defective, and the defective had been under the age
of fourteen years.
The guardian has power to warn persons against supplying intoxicants
to the defective.
Reasonable expenses of maintenance may be charged to the defective
or those liable to maintain him.
A justice may issue a warrant to a constable who, accompanied
by a doctor, may search for any defective stated to be neglected,
ill-treated, &c.
provisions safeguarding the alleged defective from
wrongful detention.
The order remains in force for one year, and thereafter for successive
periods of five years. At the end of each period of one and five years
respectively, the defective or his parent, or guardian, or relative, or
friend, may request any qualified medical practitioner to examine and
report on the defective and the means of care and supervision which
would be available if he were discharged. On such reconsideration the
visitors shall examine the defective personally, and also enquire into
the means of care and supervision available if discharged. As a result
of this enquiry they may order his discharge. If, however, they
consider the continuance of the order is required in his interests, the
defective or his parent or guardian may within fourteen days appeal to
the Board of Control against the decision of the visitors.
Bill to define Sewer and Drain.
The Association of Municipal Corporations and the Urban District
Councils Association managed once again to obtain the introduction into
the House of Commons of a Bill to amend the definitions of "sewer"