MENTAL HOSPITALS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 53, 31 August 1934, Page 4

MENTAL HOSPITALS

ACCOMMODATION QUESTION

WORK TO BE PUT IN HAND

Aspects, of mental hospitals administration were discussed in the House of -Representatives yesterday "afternoon, u-licn the report on the mental hospitals of the Dominion were under consideration.

Mr. 1\ Frascr (Labour, Wclliiigton Central) said that the results obtained at the Wellington psychological clinic showed that the work was beneficial, lie commented on the absence from the report of any reference to overcrowding, a matter which had been mentioned in previous reports. Was there ample accommodation for the patients at Porirua? Some of the activities of the Unemployment Board could be devoted towards providing accommodation.

Mr. "W, E. Barnard (Labour, Napier) said that when a. patient was commit-' tod to an institution the Department inquired of the relatives of their ability to contribute to the, patient's upkeep. He did, not'condemn the practice, but he desired to know how. far the Department went. Tho. Loader of the Opposition (Mr. M. J. Savage) asked whether the absence of reference to overcrowding was an attempt to cover up the matter. Tho facilities for classification were not up to tho mark. It was difficult to bolieve that living conditions had nothing to do with the mental state of the people. With conditions in New Zealand today it was possiblo to believe that people Jiad^ been affected mentally who would not liavo been affected had conditions beer. different-

Mr. X J. Howard (Labour,. Christchurch South) asked whether any attempt was made to bring the patients back to a normal state. Was any treatment given? . . The Minister of Health (the Hon. J, A, Young) said that the overcrowding problem was being tackled, and last year £73,000 was spent on alterations, ladditions, and •improvements. This year it was proposed to spend £90,000 on the work. As far as payment was concerned, he did net know .of any 'caso of hardship on a family. The doctors or nurses knew nothing.. relating to the matter of payment, all ac- ! counts being handled from head office. That system prevented any suggestion that a patient was not receiving proper treatment "because fees were not paid. As far as criminal lunatics TVere concerned, it was hoped to establish a.n institution-at •&••-suitable-•■•locality,/ if the means were available. Dealing with treatment, Mr. Young. said that cures were effected, if -the-'.patients were at all curable. . .