COSTLEY HOME

Evening Star, Issue 12068, 14 December 1903, Page 4

COSTLEY HOME

A DAMAGING REPORT.

AUCKLAND, December 14.

The report of the Costloy Home Roval Commissioners, which has been presented' to the Premier, states that the Commissioners on their arrival at- Auckland paid a surprise visit to the home, and found it in an exceedingly dirty condition. The beds and bedding were filthy and uncared for; the general aspect of the dormitories was desolate and comfortless; the clothes of the inmates were .generally dirty ; some of the. inmate? were infected with vermin ; the dinner was Iradly -served and of poor quality; many complained of the insufficiency of food : the drainage was defective and insanitary; and the stalf limited and incompetent. The Commissioners found five of the inmates mentally deranged. One inmate, a consumptive, had since died. Excluding the present staff, there was abundant evidence in the institute of drunkenness extending over many years, both as regards some of the members n? the staff and the inmates. The Commissioners, while of opinion that the Hospital Beard were fully justified in dispensing with John and Eliza Moss (the ex-master and matron), are of opinion that Mo?* for many years carried on his duties under great 'difficulties, that it was absolutely impossible to keep the home dean with the staff at his dispopsaL and that the Board were more responsible than Mosb for the dirty and comfortless condition of the homo. The Commissioners recommend an increased staff, including several trained nurses, new bedsteads and bedding, better food, better cooking, and improved sanitation. 'The Commissioners also recommend a complete reorganisation of the system of control and management.