SEACLIFF BUILDINGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26532, 6 August 1947, Page 4

SEACLIFF BUILDINGS

PRESBYTERY TO APPROACH MINISTER UNANIMOUS DECISION The Dunedin Presbytery unanimously resolved last night to urge the Minister of Health, Miss Howard, to give immediate attention to the need for a new institution to replace the Seacliff Mental Hospital. The motion was proposed by the convener of the Public Questions Committee, the Rev. E. L. Walsh and seconded by Professor J. A Allan, who said that the impression had been given over three years ago that building at Cherry Farm would be carried out almost immediately It is most disturbing after all that time to find that the matter has apoarently been postponed indefinitely," he said. The text of the resolution was as follows: “That the Presbytery notes with concern the statement of Dr Russell, director of mental hospitals, that the erection of the new institution at Cherry Farm has apparently been postponed indefinitely and that a large expenditure is to be incurred in the provision of makeshift accommodation at Seacliff. It calls attention to the fact that when, at the invitation of the Minister of Healh, a committee of Presbytery visited the Seacliff Mental Hospital in February, 1944. the committee reported in the following terms: The chief impression of the committee was as to the urgency of expediting the erection of the new institution. The present building is obviously antiquated, and public opinion may well be l'estless until suitable modern buildings replace it. “In view of this concern the Presbytery welcomes the statement of the Minister of Health, Miss Howard, that she intends to effect wide improvements in mental hospitals and urges her to give immediate attention to the pressing needs of Seacliff.”