MENTAL HOSPITALS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 99, 30 August 1913, Page 4

MENTAL HOSPITALS.

Interviewed in Wellington regarding. I Lie overcrowding of mental hospitals, tiic Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes, Minister]

in charge, stated that on assuming ' control of the Department, and later'

on alter an inspection of the mental hospitals, he learned that for the last three years there had been insufficient accommodation for thepatients. "] therefore," he continued, "determiti-

pJ to cope immediately with the building problem, and to endeavour to expedite the plans that wero already in crarse of preparation. With tins oh joct in view, arrangements were mad; with the Public Works Department fo: a second draughtsman to give his services along with the one who had already been detailed for the work, s'. that plans for the two large brick buildings at the Auckland Mental Hos pital might be expedited simultaneous

ly. In spite of this, however, it was some time before the plans and spaci fications were completed and tender: accepted; but a commencement ha:now been made with one of these blocks, and it is anticipated that the second will be commenced shortly. These two buildings will provide ac-

commodation for 100 men and 75 women. In the meantime buildings have been completed at Waitati, Sunnyside, Porirua, and Tokanui. Taking the institutions as a whole, the position

at the present time is that we an short of accommodation for 40 men and 83 women. 1 might mention incidentally that the admissions of women last year were unprecedented being about twice, the normal in crease. With the brick buildings re-

ferred to, this surplus will be more then ivipod out on the male side, and almost wiped out on the female side; hut I recognise that the accommoda-

tion is by no means sufficient, and in the coming year it is proposed to build so as to provide for 180 men and 160 women over and above the accommo-

dation already referred to. This will not only provide for the annual increase, but will also give us surplus room, which will be most desirable."