TRAGEDY OF SENILE DECAY

Evening Star, Issue 19698, 27 October 1927, Page 10

TRAGEDY OF SENILE DECAY

GAOL ORIENTAL HOSPITAL FOR UNFORTUNATES HEED FOR SEPARATE INSTITUTION [Special to tub ‘ Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, October 20. ■ The need for the care of senile decay cases was recognised by the North Canterbury Hospital Board to-day, when the necessity of' a separate institution for the unfortunate people, instead of gaol or the mental hospital, was recognised. Miss J 3. E. Baughan, on behalf of the Howard League for Penal Reform, approached tho board on tho subject, and tho Hospital Boards’ Association wrote concerning tho accommodation of senile decay cases, stressing the need for their cure in an institution apart from the prison or the mental Jiospial. Mr C. L. Carr: “ What do wo get out of such a proposal ■ Will tho Government do anything?” He went on to quote a Christchurch case which illustrated the need for a separate institution, which should be the concern of the Government. A letter from Dr G. J. Blackmore concerning the case referred to by Mr Carr was read. Tho Rev. J. K. Archer said the case was an abnormal one. What was needed was an institution for normal people suffering from senile decay. Miss B. E. Baughan, heading a deputation from the Howard League, said she had seen in flic prisons cases of senile decay, who had been sent to gaol for offences arising out of their condition/ This was not right. Tho prisons were r.u J mated, and the prisoners lived for about sixteen hours in their cells. Miss: Baughan quoted a case of an old woman ol seventyfour, in Wellington, who was described by the police as in her dotage, and who had been scut to prison by a magistrate for a year, after she had wandered away from a homo to which she had been committed on a, charge of being a rogue and vagabond. The case had come under the speaker’s notice, and, finally, after three months, the old woman went to tho Nazareth Home, but had to bo sent to the Mental Hospital. Miss Baughan quoted another case in support of her view. She felt that New Zealand was disgraced by its lack pf accommodation for such people. Homes for the feebleminded were essential. At present tho dominion had nothing. New Zealand was tho most backward civilised country with regard to tho care of the feeble minded.

Tho Chairman (Air H. J. Otlcy) said the matter was not being lost sight of. Thu Government had been approached on tho subject. Tho speaker thought that there should he a separate institution attached to a mental hospital for these people. When Aliss Baughan had wlthdniAvn, the Chairman said the Government hud been approached Avithont result. The board could not do anything in the meantime, but something should be carried out. Tho .Secretary (Air W. S. Wharton) read a. letter on the subject from the Director-General of Health (Dr T. 11. A. Vnlintine) supporting the admission of senile cases into old people's homes in preference to gaols and mental hospitals. It was decided to ruler the question to the Benevolent Committee. It was decided to ask the Government what avus being done in connection Avith Dr Gray’s investigations in England into the care of the feeble-minded.