First Woman on Council: One of the pioneer workers on behalf of the mentally defective visited the scene of her former labours this week and told an audience of Birmingham men and women something of the working of the Mental Deficiency Act, its achievements, and failures. She was Mrs. Pinsent, the first woman to be elected a member of Birmingham City Council. Mrs. Pinsent has been most keenly interested in work associated with mentally defectives and as long ago as 1900 because of her work in this connection was co-opted a member of the Special Schools under the old School Board. Later, in 1902, when the Birmingham Education Committee came into being she was appointed the chairman of the Special Schools Sub-Committee and retained that position until she left the city for London in 1913. It was she, I was informed by Miss E M Barling, who first pointed out the need for special after-care work, and it was because of her keen interest and outstanding knowledge that she was appointed of the Royal Commission which inquired into the care and control of the feeble-minded. FOUR YEARS’ INQUIRY: THIS commission sat for four years and heard in that time 300 witnesses representing all classes of the community. Only recently Mrs. Pinsent retired from her position as a commissioner of the Board of Control. Her knowledge of her subject is perhaps unequalled by any other woman in the country. The first Act for dealing with the mentally defectives in this country, it is interesting to recall, was introduced in the 14th century and was known as the Statute of Prerogatives dealing with “born fools, and persons of unsound mind, with certain periods of understanding.” But this only concerned persons with property. It was not until 1743 the first Act was passed dealing with pauper lunatics. By this Act, two justices could order a dangerous lunatic to be locked up and chained, if necessary.
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Referenced
GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949