ASYLUM ATTENDANTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 217, 10 September 1904, Page 4

ASYLUM ATTENDANTS.

A BRISK DEBATE. (Bjr Tl&legraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. After the collapse of the Licensing Bill debate yesterday afternoon, the House at once went into Committee of Supply, and resumed consideration of the Estimates.

A lengthy debate on the salaries and position of asylum attendants sprang up. vlr. Davey moved: "That the vote for asylums, £72,169, be reduced by £1 as an indication of the necessity for the appointment of an Appeal Board for asylum employees." He said there were 351 asylum attendants now employed, snd during the past .three years no fewer than 163 had ieft the service, which showed that there must be some thing radically wrong in regard to management. An inquiry before the medical ■superintendent would not be satisfactory. Justice must be done in some other manner.

Mr. T. Mackenzie said that reform of the asylum system was imperatively necessary, both in the accommodation, administration, and classification. The manner in which patients were dumped iown in the passages was a disgrace to civilisation.

The Hon. W. Hall-Jones said he recognised that the work was trying, and he >vas prepared to err if anything on the nde of over-fairness so long as they got Tood servants. They must not be too Critical. The wages paid were as good .s those paid in England. If the at'endants, after applying to the superintendent, could not get redress for their j-rievances, he was prepared to allow hem to write to him direct. The case of the patients must come first, but after that the attendants were all entitled to he utmost consideration.

Mr. Taylor said that the Minister had flatly refused o appoint a Board of Appeal, and had practically' said that he would resign frst. The Ministry was practically on trial for the quality of bis idministration.

Mr. Bollard expressed satisfaction that over-crowding had been overtaken, but 'he reforms promised by the Minister had not been efieted, and he trusted that the Minister would reconsider his lecision not to grant Board of Appeal.

Mr. Hall-Jones said that so long as he was in charge of the Department the ippeal must be to himself. Mr. Henries did not thing a Court of Appeal was worth much. The House should go further, and put the men under the same conditions as others. Why. he asked, should the Government be the only sweaters allowed in the country?

The Premier as id if control were taken from the medical superintendent, so that his instructions were to be subject to an inquiry, the discipline of the institutions would be seriously impaired. It was only reasonable to ask that the Minister's promise that attendants should have the right of appeal direct to the Minister,should be given a trial. If the system failed, the Minister would be the first to suggest a change. As to hours, those obtaining now were very much better than when the present Government took office.

Mr. Bollard: You are mistaken.

The Premier: He was not mistaken. If the conditions were co bad as some members had tried to make out, a difficulty would be experienced in getting men to take the position.

The Hon. Hall Jones said that the work could be carried out more smoothly without an Appeal Board, and the men could be made more comfortable.

Mr. Moss declared that there was a feeling abroad that all was not well within the asylums.

After further discussion Mr. Davey*s amendment was defeated by 28 to 20, and the vote passed unaltered.