THE MENTAL HOSPITAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 100, 26 April 1912, Page 5

THE MENTAL HOSPITAL.

M BEFLOHABLE OVEKCBOWDTKG, ,1 |t ~ !' IMMEDIATE REMEDY FEADT. | l TZiLPORAiir ACCOMMODATION AT , !* MOILIEI. i i AVitisu) three •— of Ukinj offiio., I l and '.'..'bin two iia_ .- alter ri&itmj Au. k 'J !iad. {.he MirucUr for Interna] Affairs, j " the Hon. i... \\*. Russell, hjpractically |' tfttled the ir;,rl qj&s'iou of tor ovei* > L crowding at thr A\ondal« Menu! Kja-| * pita!, and tin- ijuii-k dispatch of on Lin- 5 portant piece o. iirpa.rtment.-5l !.u=!j-i= ! r 'v:il not only l>? groat ly appreciated by j , the Auckland people, but by the Do- * iELn:on geaeraUy, .is as indication of the ° prompt methods the u«v Minister i: ' bringing into 'he eondu.-t of the many Ki-jncaw of public .'rlfarr ur.>r hi, can a trol. 'At ta<- prp.if.Et time" j.ii'l Mr. K;> t s-e.ll this morning to .1 "?tar" reporter, i f * hen outlining the itpp* he Mas taking, I t "there is an excess of twenty patients d :.d the female =;d>> and about oiip hun- ! d dred and thirty on the male _-idv at th« j I Avoadal* , Mental .\.-\lnni. over and I above thr s-tatutory number that L- pro- t vided in thf _\'.t the institu- C •..on. Oα thr. 0,---:l=:o:i r>l my vklt tbp I night I arrived iv Auckland, I found ; c large numbrrs of pa,ti«its l.ving in the i \ corridors-. Our irurn; ion I? to rai»r the { ?.:n<r]c storey of ;hr building 0:1 tar- fc | r irjalr >idr to a double .-torrv, wb;ch -sr;!! . " pro\icir extra accom»'>jif for Ton;.' I • p3J.irnti. and tn p-rect at iVip r«.ir of I ? lira.t i>l'V.k an PD-tir*ly o»ir -a-arn". whi>!i | ■ will a--coaimodati» bet-xePn rPvrnty ::ndleig'nty jvitipnio. Tb:S ->*ard w.ll lv irrrt- j - "A on -a bat. 35 no-.v the. dry mc ™r<"«iuni. ! p Thru brhin-3 t.ii 7- prp?f*nt wnj-h-ho-u'c ' f therp L- a yon" tir.i-- f-i:■» b. h Pr. j' Ber.tUf, tap Siijrierintcndfr.t. had origin- j [ .i]}*' for a nar.-f?' bom' - . This j - •will h<ocr.upird by a building consisting of either one or tio wards. and givi-ic acromniodation for a? lra.-t. ?pvonry p<2.l ip.nt.-. Thr refractory ward* will be jo placed at to be far enough away from j the pirblir roads to prevfnt any p,->s?i hOity of t.npir presence being indicated to passers-by. j "I am told." went on Mr, Russell. - -and needless to say I was more than surprised to learn it. that there are pro- jpic -who seem to take a horrible pleasure ' |j in drawing up thpjr \chicle=. and liitemnjr I f to thr .Ties of the unfortunate patients C who --an bo heard from the road. I sui- } rrrely hops the police of the district will .put in an appearance on Sunday ' n-hi:h appears to be the popular diy tor : thif. morbid rendezou.i. and fir that | ■ thAftp unfpp.lin™ people move on." 1 . When thr q!ie-.iion of th« temporary jJ. remedy for thr ovprcrowdißST »as mentioned. .Mr. Rjisse'! said: "A.- you art! well aware, -when the unfortunate tire , occurred at the uistit.ution. th*> Governmpnr found it to rcraivp a con- = e-id"rable number of pa-tients to the ■>iajid of Motuihi. thr Quarantine it..- ,- ---eon down the harbour. I requested Dr. Hay, the In3.pKrtor-Geoer.al. to prepare a report upon the suitability of zh.is clare being again used .n this direction. He has reported that it is quite suitable. Any alterations that .ire recommended ' by the Government experts will he at 1 » once made. And I iru- that before main- weeks are n'rr \cp may be abir to . "1 remove to Motliihl tl.p number of p.i-1 < lients that is non in exep-- at Avon- 1 T i.-iV. Any Pxper.iP that may be required j j for tli- pnrpn >• ,>f preparing the station < f.>r tin re-.-.;ri.->ii <:' the petients will be jincurred. as I am ;f opinion that where! tbp happiness and comfort of these unfortunate fellow men and women are I I i oneprned the question (■: economy • ' -houlri not enter into consideration. * I in-re may be =nme inconvenience in th.1.1 - temporary removal, but T-ear: assure you :: nil! He only temporary, and the bin: iiti2a I have suggested will he a; once put ; before Cabinet, with a \->w o f hiiin" ! them authorised, and after Cabinet ap" ; 1 proval ha? been obtained, no' delay wi!l| take place in removing the difficulties j : that have oeanTed-.in -connectitm- .vntii, ■ rVi-jg; -mgtitjitnoTi,'! " . ~ »