[Koha] DRAFT Horowhenua Library Trust KOHA Committee RULES

[MJ Ray]

Bob Birchall @ Calyx wrote:
> MJ Ray wrote:
> > Definitely a reservation: the "of unsound mind" language has
> > reappeared as a reason to remove a member.  It does not say who is to
> > judge soundness of mind, so I think that wording should be removed.
> > Legal incapacity should suffice as a test.
> 
> I think I just copied that from somewhere else.  I don't mind what
> expression is used.  I think its totally unlikely the clause will ever be
> needed.  I just put it in for completeness.

I also doubt it will ever be needed, but it sounds like a phrase from
a time less enlightened about mental health issues, when it was
considered acceptable for a committee to judge one of its members as
"of unsound mind".  The UK has a pretty cavalier attitude towards
personal liberty at the moment (The War Against Terror, don't you
know?) but as I understand it, even we have the right to a fair
hearing by an "impartial tribunal established by law" (Article 6 of
the European Convention on Human Rights, adopted by Human Rights Act
1998) to determine if someone is of unsound mind in many cases.

I have this rosy idea that NZ is at least as rights-protecting as
the UK...

Hope that explains,
-- 
MJ Ray (slef)  Webmaster and LMS developer at     | software
www.software.coop http://mjr.towers.org.uk        |  .... co
IMO only: see http://mjr.towers.org.uk/email.html |  .... op