THE WAITATI INEBRIATES’ HOME

Evening Star, Issue 12205, 25 May 1904, Page 8

THE WAITATI INEBRIATES’ HOME

THE MINISTERIAL REPLY. In regard to the statements made by Mr G. Laarensoh, M.H.R., as to the Inebriates’ Home at Waitati, the Attorney-Gene-ral (ths Hon. A. Pitt, who is in charge of the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Department during the temporary absence of the Hon W. flall-Jones) says that the whole fl * he 4 , trouble a « to this institution is (I) that there is no provision for the IpTCnt ;\ SSlfiCation ° f and (2) that the superintendent is not vested with power sufficient loanable him to on force discipline. The present system is certamly unsatisfactory, but the fault is with the existing law, not with the Govermnent. At the same time, he agrees at unless Parliament in the coming scssion allows' the superintendent greater powers, it will be impossible to carry on the institution satisfactorily. “ For instance,” Mr Pitt says, “ physical exercise is an important element in the treatment of inebriates, and accordingly the patient; have been asked to do outdoor work aboir the grounds, but this task thsy positive!; decline, and the medical officer is powcric:to compel them to work. The reply o' the paying patients is: Tam paying here Why should Ihe asked to work?’ Yet when some patients from Seacliff Asylum were brought up to put the grounds in order the inmates of the Waitati Home objected to their presence, and as they will not work themselves the place is falling into disorder.” The need for the classification of curable and non-cnrable cases is obvious, but the Minister says this can only be accomplished by having separate homes. He does not agree with the statement of Mr Lauren son that Hie quarters for the patients arc "cramped, and wholly inadequate for tho use of people who ought to be treated with exceptional care rather than as ordinary patients.” Mr Laurenson himself admits, he says, that the patients are “well fed and well cared for.” The powers of the superintendent will have to bo increased, also, the Attorney-General says, to enable him to prevent the present loose system of allowing patients to he released. At present patients may be taken out of the home on the order of two doctors and a magistrate against the express advice of the superintendent, who may consider that the man’s treatment requires that he should remain there. The Attorney-General says he knows nothing of the supplies lying about the premises, and brass fittings rusting in the yard. He intends to have this inquired into. He is to visit the home on his return from Audiland, and is also to obtain a report concerning tho institution from Dr Hay, inspector of hospitals and charitable institutions.