PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29237, 22 June 1960, Page 16

PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS

Concern Expressed By Chief Justice

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 21. Concern at the production of Health Department record books referring to the Kingseat Mental Hospital was expressed by the Chief Justice (Sir Harold Barrowclough) in the Supreme Court today. They were State documents and contained highly confidential information about mental patients, he said. His Honour asked the Registrar of the Court to telephone the head office of the Health Department and make known his concern. Later, the Director of the Mental Hygiene Division of the Health Department (Dr. G. Blake-Palmer) arrived in Court, and at the suggestion of his Honour the two junior counsel conferred with him.

His Honour took fie action during the hearing of a case in which William Alfred Montague McLean, a psychiatric charge attendant, is claiming £3OOO damages from Truth (N.Z.), Ltd When a witness produced two record books, his Honour said he felt some concern, as the books were State documents and contained highly confidential information about mental patients. If the books were put in as exhibits the jury would be entitled to take them when it retired, whereas, his Honour said, neither he nor the jury nor counsel had any right to the information in them

After junior counsel and officers of the Health Department had conferred the parties agreed that the books be sealed over except for the relevant entries

Schoolboys* Soccer.— The New Zealand Football Association last night approved its annual grant of £5OO to the Junior National Council—a self-governed body in control of schoolboy soccer.— (P.A.)