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| FEEBLE--MINDED * _----_--- Sir William Hearst Tells De-- putation That Action Will be Taken «Wbtrmueoinientn ieb rnigugrine & The Government intends dealing with the problem of caring for the feeble--minded in a comprehensive way as soon as the report of Mr. Justice HMHodgins with regard to the "Imatter is received. This was the statement of Sir William Hearst,' Prime Minister, to a deputation from ; the Ontario Association for the Care | lof the Feeble--minded, which waited on the Government yesterday morn-- Ing. The deputation included in-- 'terested parties --from all parts of |Ontario, and --certain -- resolutions 'reached hy the visitors at a meeting held earlier in the morning were 'presented to the Government. Ap-- 'preciation was expressed of the et-- forts the Government has already put forth, and an earnest appeal was made for a more advanced policy. The first speaker, Rev. Canon Plumptre, stated that the object of the deputation was more to give the IPrime Minister and his colleagues jassurance that any steps the Gov-- jerhment might take would have the warm support of the people of the Province. It was not the object to suggest a policy for the Govern-- ment. The need for clearing out the plague spots at home before the sol-- diers return from the front wa:s urged by Mrs, P. D. Crerar of Ham-- ilton, who commended the Govern-- ment for launching an offensive 0o: lthe venereal disease problem, bu gave it as her opinion that if th« |feeble--minded problem was first at tacked, the-- authorities would b striking a blow at the other prob lem. She expressed the opinio; that venereal diseaso was traceabl 'lto the large increase in the numbe: of feeble--minded persons in th Province,. A Provincial Responsibility. Ex--Controller J. O, McCarthy said the problem should not be left to hap--hbhazard municipal action,' but should be treated as a Provincial re-- !spousibillty. He believed the muni-- 'cipalit;cs were ready to bear their lshare of the cost, and to ,accept re-- sponsibility for caring for children of school age, but they felt that the Government should ascept the task of looking after adults, It was ob-- |vious that it would be useless for ;the municipalities to spend money in caring for children if they were to be turned back into society when they reached the most Gangerous | age. In reply the Prime Minister said |the problem was deserving of seri-- ous consideration, and the Govern-- ment had appointed a commissioner to report upon the matter, not mere-- ly from a custodial and curative standpoint, but also from the stand-- point of financial responsibility. "As soon as that report is received," sat he, '"it will receive not only ou: thought and consideration, but ac-- tion alorg the line that we feel should be taken."