COMMITTAL FOR INSANITY

Evening Star, Issue 18729, 3 September 1924, Page 4

COMMITTAL FOR INSANITY

PETITION FOR TRIAL. SHEEP FARMER’S EXPERIENCE. , [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 2. A retired sheep farmer in the Gisborne district has petitioned Parliament through the member for the Bay of Plenty praying that the law relating to mental defectives be amended so that any person suspected of being mentally unsound shall have a right of trial by a magistrate as an ordinary court proceeding, and be represented by a solicitor; also that he be given the right p£ appeal or rehearing at any time. The petitioner also asks for compensation as the result of his own' experiences. Ho was committed to Avondale Montal Hospital in July, 1911, the magistrate refusing to allow a solicitor to appear for him, and committing him, despite.his protests, declaring that he had been certified insane. Prior to these proceedings two doctors had conversed with him, but he had no knowledge of their purpose. He alleges that it was some weeks before | he obtained an interview with the Mental 'Hospital superintendent, and, although he frequently urged his release, was unaware of the procedure. He was discharged in September, 1913; and is now desirous of having his sanity legally proved, the slur on his family removed, and the law so amended that no other person shall suffer a repetition of bis experiences.