MENTAL HOSPITALS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume C, Issue 11751, 1 December 1898, Page 4

MENTAL HOSPITALS.

Me G. W. Russule very pectinentiy-'Te-] minded us yesterday morning that, during; the session of 1896, he introduced ® Billi dealing with the question raised by Mbs! Cunnmgton in connection with,’ the .manage-; ment of our lunatic asylums. This-measure, proposed that at each institution there should be a Board of Inquiry'- to; which the members of the staff ofl employees might appeal against that decisions of the Resident Superintendent. | Unfortunately, Mr Russell’s Bill was in-; traduced in a moribund Parliament, and) suffered the fate that overtakes so many' excellent proposals' tinder similar circmn- 1 stances. But what wo said the-. other-day , in approval of Mrs Cunningtonls recom--mendations we very readily repeat .in. .to-, spect-to Mr Russell’s suggestions. Both: Mrs Ctiuningitan and Mr Russell take ai common-sense view of a very important ! question, and we can see no reason, why ! hospitals for the treaftmenb of mental xn-j firmities should.be-managed on-an altogether] different principle from hospitals for tihaj treatment of bodily disorders. There-can,] to our mind, be no reasonable objection.tel the formation of Supervisory Boards,, com-i posed of members representing, os both) our correspondents have proposed, the| various interests concerned in the -manage-j ment of our asylums. Their object--would] not be to interfere with the legitimate | duties of the Medical Superintendent, but! to safeguard rthe management- from the] personal .autocracy of that high official. Under the existing system the attendants have-no appeal from what might be the most abominable treatment, and this is -a state of things which no public servant! should be asked to. endure. We hope,] therefore, that the suggestion made by Mrsj Ounnington will bo taken up by some mem-, her-of the present House-orßepresentafces,! and that it will be embodied in legislation* during the next session of Parliament,.