OVER THE FENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12761, 3 October 1919, Page 8

OVER THE FENCE.

SCHOOL AND ASYLUM.

UNDESIRABLE NEIGHBOURS

The decision of the Mental Hospitals Department to establish a mental hospital in the vicinity of the Uombv ochool drew a strong protest from the ttoinoy School Committee and the Canterbury Education Board, which wrote to tho Hon. G. W. Russell, then Minister of Public Health, on August 18, with reference to the matter. At to-day’s meeting of the board the following Jotter was read from Dr Hav Inspector-Geuei-a 1 of Mental Hospitab: Ihe Hon G. W. Russell considered your letter, discussing the question in all its bearings, and referred it to me for reply Since then he has retired from the Ministry, and. as 1 presume it is not your wish that the matter should bo again referred to a Minister, the policy matter of establishing an institution at Hornby hawing been agreed upon, I shall proceed with an won and suggestion which 1 trust will fiat^ factor y by the Homoy School Committee. There is an unfortunate necessity for extending mentel hoptals, both lor accommodation and classification. Wherever such institutions are placed, there is sure to be some objection by some part of the community. We consider it our duty to recognise this and to do all that .we real or ada 7 a PP re bensions, ir dnL f fi! 13 ?’- 80 l 0n S can well lnt<?rferm S with the well-being ot the patients. I under stand that the Birnbv School has a rontege to Factory IW, and tho eastern boundary of the SHK for ”abo4it tZ and a half chains along the western Nieofib 17 ° f Z Property known as Mr tion U or^ hlS b ? Undaf -V’ is a plantaHornby School Com„E^^ l^.h^ dary into the 1 don’t wish rodenv teat Z? I B * 6 S ° me P atlents "W conbS?l wfnllf'n! ar ° olj j°ciionable, ut J "onld like the committee to understand that, the patients it is intended to place at Hornby will, as a class not be of tho above type. We are ouito as anxious that the well-being ofthe i n l mates of the institution will not be dmairbod as tho school committee is that the clnldi-eu will not lie disturbed. . oo number to be accommodated at tho institution will also bo limited With, the above explanation I think that the wishes or the committee* will be sufficiently met it we instruct the patients to use tho grounds immediately adjoining the common boundary as little as possible.

The letter was considered bv the board's Building Committee. winch recommmended that a copy of the letter should be sent to the Hornby School Committee, and that the Mental Hospitals Department should bo approached with a view to its giving to the board a piece of land between the school and theboundary of the hospital grounds. The committee’s recommendation was to.