DISPOSAL OF RELATIVES.

NZ Truth, Issue 978, 23 August 1924, Page 6

DISPOSAL OF RELATIVES.

Parliamentary Criticism.

"Truth's" Parliamentary rep. writes: "The case of the Auckland man who was wrongly eommiUtJd to the Auckland Mental Hospital \vu« too grave a matter to bo overlooked Jn Parliament, and a large number of membenj took the opportunity to voice their views on tho subject when the Minister for Health tabled the Mental Hospitals annual report. It was generally conceded that Dr. Beuttle, the super* lntendent, took the right course In having the case taken to the Supreme Court. On tho other hand, members wore Impressed by the fact that It la much too easy for pcoplo to dispose of relatives. Some strong comments

were made upon the present system (ft commitment, and it was urged that evidence given before the Magistrate ought to be sifted thoroughly before any order is made. "The establishment of half-way houses appealed to some members, but was strongly opposed h" others. It was pointed out that i- -o Mental Hospitals of the Domir. acre 4s a certain amount of classifies .on now m force, and a point made by the Minister for Health was that everybody would want his "friends placed m the half-way houses, and soon the Mental Hospitals would be empty, with, the result that the position would be as bad as ever. > The argument was weak, and ignored the fact that there are very many .cases of a mild type which are badly prejudiced by commitment to an out-and-out asylum. However, the discussion was useful, and, together with the 'publicity given to the Auckland case, should bear fruit m brie or two directions." \\