CENTRAL MENTAL HOSPITAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 10 February 1908, Page 1

CENTRAL MENTAL HOSPITAL.

— — i IM'ENTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT. The Government intend shortly to carry out a new, and what is considered by experts will be 'an improved : method of treating the mentally afflict- i cd. To a "Post" representative Mr G. Fowlds (Minister in Charge of Hospitals), said the Government was making some additions to the mental hospital at Porirua, but they were not of a very extensive character. "I am on the lookout," added-Mr Fowlds, "for a suitable piece of land for a central mental hospital, but so far I have not been successful. It will probably be on the Main Trunk line, where a good extant of land can be obtained. We have lots of available labour at these institutions, which we cannot use to the best advantage on the small pieces of land at present attached to them; and, in any case, the time has arrived when we ought to start on another institution — a central mental hospital — to get the place in order. It is not a desirable thing to have too many inmates crowded into one building. If we had a. large piece of land, and were starting anew, we would work the institution more in the way of separate colonies, which would enable much better classification to be arranged than is possible when having all the patients in one large building. '