ASYLUM ATTENDANTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12240, 8 April 1903, Page 7

ASYLUM ATTENDANTS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l see ill this morning's issue of your paper a letter re changes on the asylum stafi. The writer states that during the last four or five years there has only been from 60 or 80 changes. I know an ex-attendant that has kept a rceord of attendants that have left the staff, and it mounts up to considerably over 100 within the last five years. Your correspondent went on to say that the position of a medical superintendent is au autocratic one, and he reserves to himstolf the right to dismiss at any moment. • This is so. I know a. man who was an attendant there. One morning he was called in to the office and told that his services would not be required after the end of the month. Ho wrote to the medical officer and asked for an interview, and why he was dismissed. Ho got no reply nor oould ho get an interview. He went to the official visitor to try and get, an inquiry, but he told him he could do nothing in the matter. He had to go like a man that is condemned and not guilty. But now, sir, I am told things are changed, and that attendants only make a convenience of the asylum. Some stop two or three days, some a month, and others till they get a few pounds in their pockets, and then they are off. If you ask them why thoy leave, they tell you there .is no encouragement to stop there. Now, there is better pay and shorter hours outside, caused through that law which our Government brought out, a law which did not suit themselves to try. If anyone ought to Be competed M shorten hours, and to give more pay, it ought to be the Government, who is the lawmaker, and also the lawbreaker.— am. etc., April 3, 1903. Attendant Supporter.