ASYLUM SCANDAL IN SYDNEY. CHARGES OF STARVATION AND ILL-TREATMENT.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 205, 28 May 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

ASYLUM SCANDAL IN SYDNEY. CHARGES OF STARVATION AND ILL-TREATMENT.

Sydney, May 11. Nearly the whole of last night's bitting of the Legislative Assembly was devoted to the discussion of a report recently brought) up by the board appointed some months ago to inquire into the management of certain charitable asylums. The report was received by the Colonial Secretary last Saturday, and a copy was courteously forwarded by him to Mr Dibbs, by whom the board was appointed. Mr Dibbs wr.s sn startled by the revelations contained in the report and evidence that he last night brought the matter before the House and requested to know from the Colonial Secretary whether he would not at once suspend the officials who were charged by the board with the gross eases of cruelty and neglect set out in the report. Sir Henry Parker appeared indisposed to accept the report of the Board without further investigation, and declined to suspend the officials referred to until he had satisfied himself that such an extreme course was necessary. This led to a lengthened debate, in which several members took part, and in the course of which some very startling allegations were made against the management of some of our public asylums. The report of the board is one of the most hfcrongly-worded documents ever piesented to any Government, and if its substantial truth be granted, reveals the existence of such cruelty and brutality in the management of the asylums for our helpless poor and sick as is almost without precedent. The board charge certain officials with having permitted more than one inmate of these asylums to be slowly starved to death, and particulars of several of these cases are given. A portion of the report also goes to show that men were kicked, tortured and beaten to death at one of the asylums. The evidence is of a shocking character and difficult of belief. "Referring to the evidence on this matter, the report states that if it be true (and the boai'd have no doubt of its truth) it discloses a " most terrible state of tilings." Such portions of vhis evidence as are capable of being quoted in a public print refer to cases in which one man was dragged from lu\ bed by the hair, throw n on the floor and mopped with cold water ; another, who was raving, the night before he died, was beaten unmercifully with a mop ; another \va-> struck in the face and kicked and beaten w ith u mop ; and several others of a similar character. The board calls upon the ({overninent to interfere to prevent the perpetration of the present state of affairs, of which they say:— ''ln view of the existence of such atrocities as these, your board therefore urge that immediate steps may be taken to better the condition of these unfortunates and end a system of ill-treatment and neglect which, although existing under the name of charity and in the midst of a Christian community, would be degrading to the most inhuman race of savages." The* debate last night led to no definite result, as the Colonial Socretary declared that he had received the report so I'ecently as not to be able to say yet what steps he would take upon it. Although members generally were not in prosession of the report, it appeared that some wero familiar with its contents, while others had already acquainted themselves with the system of management of the institution referred to, and were Aery outspoken in their condemnation. One member, for instance,, stated that it had been the practice for the doctor to give death certificates in blank so that the wardsmen or other hospital servants could fill in any cause of death they chose. The Minister for Lands, however, and some others, protested against the matter being debated, or any foregone conclusions arrived at., until the Colonial Secretary had had an opportunity of dealing with the report.

Sydney, May 12. Tho alteration made by the Government in the tariff, retaining the duties on a number of articles, has .somewhat perplexed the ultra- freetraders, and caused rejoicing, to the protectionists. The Treasurer explained that after reducing the beer duty by threepence it was necessary in order to meet some unforseen expenses to obtain furlner revenue. Mr McMillan said that the Government should have told their supporters what would have followed from their consenting to forego 25 per cent, of tho beer revenue. Mr Trickett accused the Premier of selling his party and selling the country, which brought up Sir Henry Parkes, who said the Government had not been unfaithful to any promises they had made. These duties were simply retained for revenue purposes. In his opinion Ihe time was not yet arrived for a property ti\K.

Scene in the House. A disgraceful scene occurred in the House between Mr McElhone and Mr Toohey. The ' former was the aggressor, as when Mr Toohey rose to complain about something having reference to the duties, Mr McElhone said, " Don't mind him ; he is drunk, with his own tanglefoot." Mr Toohey retorted: "You are alow blackguard." Then said Mr McElhone : " You are a low Fenian and a dynamiter." The Speaker commented on the disgraceful words uttered, and called on Mr Mcllhone to withdraw and apologise. This he declined to do, and reiterated the expression. The Speaker was powerless, and said he considered it a case in which the leader of the House should take action. .Sir 11. Parkes thought that Mr Toohey should be first dealt with, but the Speaker said he had only heard Mr McElhone. Mr Toohey at once apologised, and said that the expression was used under the greatest provocation- Mr McElhone then very reluctantly withdrew. Mr Dibbs and others made complaint that Sir H. Parkeh did not support the Speaker.

" I wish I was a star," he said, smiling at his own poetic fancy. " I would rather yoti were a comet, " she said, dreamingly. His heart beat tnmultuously. " And why ?" he asked, tenderly, at the same time taking: her unresisting little hands in his own"And why?" he repeated, imperiously* "Oh." she said, with a brooding earnestness that fell upon his soul like bare feet on a cold oilcloth, " because then you would come round once every 1,500 years." It is reported that the Exchange Bill, which the Government intend to introduce in the House of Commons, empowers trustees to invost in .colonial securities.