POLITICAL POINTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8526, 16 September 1913, Page 8

POLITICAL POINTS

NO INFORMATION—NO PROGRESS ■ A meeting of tho Liberal Opposition party was held yesterday to consider the "position in regard to tho_ deadlock on tho Estimates, and it was unanimously resolved that not another item shook' be passed until the Government produced tho reports on the departments involved. A prominent member of tho party stated last evening that the Opposition would firmly maintain this attitude, even if the sii/tings were prolonged to inordinate length. “Unless tho Government give us tho information we want, no progress will bo made,” ho declared. OFFICIAL VISITORS. Some of tho few serious questions raised during tho blockade on the Estimates yesterday related to official visitors at mental hospitals. It was Mr Isitt who referred to them, and ho was careful to explain that it was not in a jocular mood that he did so. Noticing a vote of £25 on tho Estimates for an official visitor to tho Auckland asylum, he declared the present arrangement for official visiting to bo an absolute farce. The visits were made at regular intervals at times perfectly well-known beforehand, and there was tho utmost difficulty in proving complaints, because if a patient gave evidence, the explanation was that it was an indication of a diseased brain. He contended that a certain number of persons in tho neighbourhood of asylums should have an absolute right to enter any room in tho asylum at any hour of day or night. There would be no effective supervision otherwise. BANQUETS AND REPORTS. “If you attend 121 banquets during the recess, 'ST course you haven’t time to look after reposes.” A little thrust for tho Ministry by Mr W. D. S. MacDonald (Bay of Plenty) yesterday afternoon.