MENTAL HOSPITALS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19583, 12 September 1925, Page 6

MENTAL HOSPITALS.

OAEE OF THE PATIENTS. THE MINISTER COMPLIMENTED. (Ebom Otra Own Coekkspondknt.) WELLINGTON, September U. Several members to-dny complimented the Minister in charge of Mental Hospitals (Sir Maui Pomare) and the Government on all that hod been done in the interests of patients in mental hospitals. Mr V> itty carton) was especially complimentary. Ho put in a plea for attendants in respect to making it easier for them to get superannuation. There was no doubt, ho said, that some became obsessed with their surroundings, and eventually became patients themselves. Mon and women, ho added, must bo born to do that work. Complimentary reference was made to the late Dr Hay and also to the work of Sir Truby King. Mr Sidoy urged that in oases where patients did work that was profitable to the department they should be paid for it as were prisoners. References wore made to the overcrowding in some of the institutions. Sir Maui Pomare paid a personal tribute to tho late Dr Hay. It was, ho said, not often that a man of that character was picked up. Ho said he also wished to thank the atoll far the very loyal manner in which they had carried out their work. They had shown tremendous zeal and loyalty in the many changes that hod taken place during tho last few months. In regard to Mr Sidoy’s suggestion about paying patients for tho work they did as was done in the case of prisoners, he did not thirdr Mr Sidoy's comparison was a very happy one. They could not compare the two cases. A prisoner was in possession of his faculties, and he did his work well Moreover, ho was in only for a limited time. On tho contrary, one could not tell how long a mental patient would be in an institution. Again, in a mental hospital tho work was part, of the cure. In mental hospitals also they had to have people who saw' that tho patients did their work, and nine patients did only tho work of one ordinary man. Often, tod, patients did not do the work as it should be done. In regard to Mr Sidoy’s suggestion, ho thought it was just as well to leave it well alone. In regard to overcrowding steps were being taken to remedy tnat. A now building at Porirua to accommodate 200 patients was nearly completed. In regard to half-way houses he was afraid that policy could not be established, but the department intended to establish sanatoria away from tho precincts of tho mental hospitals. If they were to establish half-way houses they would need buildings twice as big as they had nowu Tho stall of attendants would have to bo doubled, and tho overhead expenditure would bo more than double wliat it was in tho case of tho whole of the mental hospitals at the present moment. Ho was therefore airaid tliat halfway bouses were not practicable at the present time.