Order on Mason report

Press, 30 September 1988, Page 6

Order on Mason report

PA Wellington The High Court in Auckland had issued an interim order preventing the Government from publishing parts of the Mason report on psychiatric services, said the Minister of Health, Mr Caygill, yesterday. The Crown Law Office had told him the order was issued to protect the interests of the various

parties until the matters could be considered by a Full Court, he said. The Government would not now be in a position to release the report on Monday, as intended. “I am concerned that the report be released as soon as possible,” Mr Caygill said. “The questions before the Court do not bear on the bulk of the Mason

commission’s report, nor do they affect any of its recommendations.” The report has already been delayed twice — the first time because it was thought parts of it could have influenced an impending court case and then again this month after accusations that some people had views misrepresented. The inquiry, headed by

Judge Mason, of the District Court at South Auckland, was ordered after a former psychiatric patient stabbed four people, killing two, in June last year. Mr Caygill said the issues raised by the Mason inquiry needed to be addressed urgently. “Accordingly I hope that the matters in dispute can be considered by the Court as soon as possible,” he said.