COMMITTAL TO MENTAL INSTITUTIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25564, 17 June 1944, Page 7

COMMITTAL TO MENTAL INSTITUTIONS

Sir, —May I be allowed a little space 'to comment on tire statements of Mr A. Steven, the agent of the Patients and Prisoners’ Aid Society, as reported on June 14? Mr Steven refers to an aged gentleman of 92 years of age being sent to Seacliff, and thinks it is a shame. If Mr Steven went to the right quarters— I mean the Government—he would most likely get the answer, “ Sorry, we can’t do anything about it.” I contend that it is the Government that should be responsible for the welfare of the aged people, for if it was not for them none of us, including tire Government of this country, would be where we are to-day. Mr Steven must realise that the people he refers to are those who in the first place gave all of us a chance of a livelihood in this fair country of ours, and it is up to him, and every one of us, to see that they are looked after in the proper way after they become too old to look after themselves.. Mr Steven refers to the Hospital Board as being responsible for the welfare of the aged mental patients. Well, he must realise that the hospital has a job on its hands in looking after the sick and suffering and, in my personal opinion, it does a wonderful job

to-day, and the patients whom Mr Steven mentions are given the best of treatment whilst under the hospital's care. I am talking from personal experience. It is not the officials of the Hospital Board who send the people he refers to to the institutions mentioned by him, for a patient of the hospital cannot be admitted to a mental institution until committed by , a magistrate and without the consent of the next of kin. , I do not wish Mr Steven to think that I am up against him. I am one who desires to see the aged cared for in the proper way, but also I like to see the blame put on the right shoulders.—l am, etc. Fair Play Dunedin, June 14.