SENT TO PORIRUA

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 142, 13 December 1933, Page 10

SENT TO PORIRUA

THEN RELEASED

MINISTER PROMISES INQUIRY,

Allegations that a Wellington man had been placed in the Porirua Mental Hospital without due cause, and that the Mental Defectives Act gave wide opportunities for the wrongful committal of persons into mental institutions were made in the House of Representstives yesterday afternoon. Mr. R. McKcen (Labour, Wellington South) said that he had recently had a concrete case of wrongful committal brought under his notice. The person involved was a man 65 years of age who was mentally strong but physically, weak. His wife and family had a certain interest in a religious organisation, but he had no inclination for it. The wife submitted to the superintendent of the Poriiua Mental Hospital evidenco that her husband's parents and relatives had suffered from mental trouble, and arranged that he should be examined. Another doctor was called in. ■ i Mr. McKeen contended that the questions .put to the man to test his sanity were absolutely, staggering. He was asked: "Do you play cricket?" and his reply was "Don't be silly. I am 65 years of age." Then he was asked; "Do you attend football matches?" and he said, "No, I haven't been to a foojball match for years." "Wheu 'were you last at the pictures?" ■ they asked, and he said, "I haven't been to the pictures for two y«ars because I can't afford them." Then ho w,aa asked, "How would you like a trip to Porirua?" Mr. McKeen said that the man naturally resented the questions that were put to him and showed fight. A policeman and an attendant were sent for and he was taken to Porirua. The Magistrate who was asked to sign tha order for his committal came to the conclusion that he was perfectly sane, and in two days the man was released. He had now returned home. ■ . In reply, tho Minister of Health (tha Hon. J. A. Young) said that formerly. a man could be committed to a mental hospital'on tho evidence of one doctor, but under the present law two medical men competent to judge the case were required. In addition, the superintendent of the mental hospital had to make a special, examination and forward a report to a Magistrate within twentyfour hours. . Mr. McKeen: What would have happened in this case if the Magistrate had not gone out? The Minister! Under this section tha Magistrate is required to visit tha patient. I will be very pleased to confer with Mr. McKeen and go into the whole matter, and make the fullest inquiry because I am certain there must be another side to the story.