AN APPEAL FOR RELIEF.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10104, 11 October 1917, Page 5

AN APPEAL FOR RELIEF.

(Fbom Oub Pabuamentaby Rjpobtib.) WELLINGTON, Oct 10. The circumstances connected with an arrest at Hamilton were, discussed in tho House of Representatives to-day. _ A man was admitted to the Waikato Hospital, and his case was diagnosed by the medical superintendent as delirium tremens. He becauio violent, and as the hospital padded cell waa already occupied, the police were asked to remove him. In order that ho might become liable to arrest, the hospital authorities put him outside the institution, and a constable at once arrested him on a. charge of being drunk in u public place. _ While in police custody the. man injured his head by his own violence, and became a hopeless lunatic. His wife now appealed for Telief. Several members argued that cases of thiskind ought not to be placed in polico hands at all. Sir Jolui Findlay said thero was an obvious weakness in the law, 6inca a man could not be arrested, even for hia own good, unless he had committed an offence or was insane. Tho man in the case under notice had only become liable !<• arrest by Ihe action of tho hospital authorities.