MENTAL PATIENTS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 1 August 1928, Page 5

MENTAL PATIENTS

j ON PAROLE AT PORIRUA. REASSURING STATEMENT. AUDIO BY HON. J. A. YOUNG rt (By Telegraph—Special to The Star.) WELLINGTON, July 31. Ad legations regarding lack of control over patient® in the Porirua Mental 1 Hospital were made in the House to- ; day by Mir W. H. Field (Otaki), who stated, during q, discussion on the mental hospitals report, that men committed for homicide and sexual offences wqre permitted to be at large i\ if hold attendants. There was a fear among residents in tlh© district that some da.y trouble would develop. He had mentioned the matter to the superintendent and was assured that these fears were needless. However, Air Field said lie must mention it to, the Minister, as the complaints Irad become insistent, and there was good ground for believing that disaster might occur at any time owing to certain patients being at large Some time ago a patient with suicidial tendencies escaped from Porirua Hospital and lay down in front of a train This! ns an was killed and, Mr Field added, lie ‘believed that there had been a similar fatality previously. “AVe all have to take, risks,’’ commented Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central), who thought the greater danger to guard against was that oil keeping r>ocple in a mental hospital who could be let out on parole. He did not mean that violent or doubtful -patients'should be liberated, but if the medical superintendent thought a patient might be released, though there might be- an element of risk, that risk might he taken, though he knew that this was not possible until public opinion was educated up to a more.illiberal' view regarding- the treatment of the mentally afflicted. The Minister in charge of mental hospitals, the Hon. J. A. Young, assured the House that no patients were placed on parole at Porirua who were likely to cause anxiety to the residents. He .be-, lieved he knew one case of a homicidal ] patient mentioned by the member for Gtaki. It was an unfortunate case of a father who had killed his son while insane. That man to-day was perfectly sane and fit to go outside and resume his work, but the difficulty was Ids conviction. The authorities were satisfied that he was perfectly harmless and could foe considered for release; however, in view of the serious crime lie had committed while under mental suffering, they could not take any risk. Public opinion .required to be educated regarding the treatment of mental patients, added the AHnister. He understood that the medical superintendent at Porirua had interviewed residents regarding patients being on parole.