BEST CONDITIONS SOUGHT

Evening Star, Issue 22807, 16 November 1937, Page 2

BEST CONDITIONS SOUGHT

CARE OF MENTAL PATIENTS [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, November, 15. An appeal to all members of the House and to the community in general to co-operate with the Government in bringing about the best possible conditions for mental patients was made by the Minister of Health, the Hon. P. Fraser, in the House, when replying to discussion and criticism on the mental hospitals’ annual report. He asked l the House to support the Government in its expenditure for that purpose.

Mr Fraser stressed the necessity for educating the community to appreciate that, apart from certain characteristics, there was not a wide difference between public hospitals and mental hospitals. Both institutions cared for the suffering —the one for the physical sufferer and the other for the mentally afflicted. The fact that it was thought desirable to isolate certain people from the communitv in general indic'tcd that heredity had to be taken into account, it was difficult, however, to legislate

for heredity. They could control and improve environment, but when it came to legislating for the germ-plasm that was beyond the depth not only of the ordinary legislator, but of science itself at the present time. One of the most pleasing features of the report was the effort made to overcome to some extent the lamentable overcrowding of the mental hospitals .that had existed for many_ years, the Minister continued. In saying that he was not* reflecting on any of his predecessors in office or on the DirectorGeneral concerned, who had brought about great changes and improvements. Tho Government was anxious for all members of the House to visit the mental hospitals, and in particular to inspect the villa system where established, and to note the comparative freedom the patients enjoyed. Ho also asked for the co-operation of the public. The Minister said there was no need for under-staffing, and if it occurred it would be rectified. With extra time off each week and longer holidays the work was not unattractive, except perhaps in the worst wards. The Direc-tor-General was not aware of any understaffing.

Dealing with the incidence of goitre among mental hospital patients, Mr Fraser referred to the research work being carried out and the use of iodised salt at the institutions. He hoped that further investigations would be made. They would be a valuable contribution to the solution of the problem.