A HORNBY COMPLAINT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18218, 4 October 1919, Page 7

A HORNBY COMPLAINT.

MENTAL HOSPITAL AND SCHOOL. The decision of tho Mental Hospitals Department to establish a mental hospital in the vicinity of tho llonVoy School drew- a strong protest from the Hornby School Committee and tne Canterbury Education Board, which wrote to the Hon. G. W. Russell, then Minister of Public Health, on August 19, with reference to the matter. At yesterday’s meeting of tho board tho following letter was read from Dr Hay, Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals:—“The Hon G. W. Russell considered your letter, discussing tho question in all its bearings, and referred it to mo lor reply. Since then he has retired from the Ministry, and, as I presume it is not your wish that the matter should bo again referred to a Minister, the policy matter of establishing an institution at Hornby having been agreed upon, I shall proceed with an explanation and suggestion which 1 trust will be deemed satisfactory by tho Hornoy School Cc mmitteo. There is an unlortunate necessity foi extending mental hospitals, both for accommodation and classification. Wherever such institutions aro placed, there is sure to bo some objection by some part of the community. We consider it our duty to recogniso this ‘and to do all that wo reasonably can' to allay apprehensions, real or imaginary, so long as this can bo done without interfering with the well-being of the patic-nts. I understand that the Hornby School has a frontage to Factory Road, and the eastern boundary of the grounds runs for about. two aud a half chains along tho western boundary of the property known ns Air Aicoil s—on this boundary, is a plantation of trees. I presume that the iiornby Scnool Committeo is apprehensivo of patients looking over this boundary into the school buildings and girls’ playground. I don’t wish to deny that that there arc some patients whose conduct and language arc objectionable, but I would like the committee to understand that the patients it is intended to place at Hornby will, as a class, riot) boot the above type. Wo are quite as anxious that the well-being of the inmates of the institution wil] not bo disturbed as tho school committee is that the children will not be disturbed. The number to bo accommodated at the institution will also be limited. With the above explanation I think that the wishes of the committtee will lie sufficiently met if we instruct the patients to use the grounds immediately adjoining the common boundary as little as posssible.” The letter was considered by tho board’s Building Committee, which recommmended that a copy of the letter should be sent to the Hornby School Committee, and that the Mental Hospitals Department should be approached with a view to its giving to the board a piece of land between the school and tho boundary of the hospital grounds. The committee’s recommendation was agreed to.