HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 169, 18 July 1903, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

DIBfOSSEiaED HOTELKEEPKRS.

The Public Pfctitions Committee reported that they had no recommends tion to make in regard to the petition of thirteen Dnnedin hotel-keepers, who complained that they had suffered pecuniary loss and had been deprived of their means «f livelihood through the severe administration of the Licensing Act. | LUNATIC ASYLUM 3. Mr Buddo brought down the report of the Public Petitions Committee on the petition of Jessie MacKenzie and 21 others of Auckland, who prayed that separate provision be made for the shelter and management of imbecile persons who are already inmates of various asylums. The report was as follows: — " That in the opinion of the Committee! the time has arrived when provision should be made for separate institutions for weak-minded or imbecile and idiotic person?, who, through the want of more suitable accommodation, are sent to lunatic asylums, where they are unavoidably associated with patients who are under treatment for imsanity, and where also no attempt is made towards classification or improve ment by means of training and education; and, further, that from the evidence before them the Committee are of opinion that there is urgent necessity for immediate action being taken by the Government in the matter." , . ~ , A long discussion ensued, in which Mr Seddon expressed the opinion that the overcrowding of asylums was partly due to the fact that people were confined there who had no right to be there. The Government were seriously considering the whole question of lunatic asylums reform.

AJ>DREBS-IN-REPLYj Mr Graham resumed the debate *n the Addreis-in-Beply.