MENTAL HOSPITAL CASE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 19910, 8 October 1913, Page 5

MENTAL HOSPITAL CASE.

JOHNSTON'S GRIEVANCE

THE TAKING OF EVIDENCE

(By Telegraph.—Special to Chronicle.) WELLINGTON. October 7 An interim report was presented to the House by the A. to L. Petitions Committee to-day, m regard to the petitions of T. H. Johnston., of Waihi, and his wife, who have asked Parliament for compensation fot' themselves and their children on account of the alleged wrongful committal and detention of Johnston in the Auckland Mental Hospital.

Mr Bradney, chairman of the Committee, reported that he had been directed to report that at a meeting of the Committee on Friday last a ruling given by him, viz., "That any evidence showing the previous mental state of the male petitioner should be admitted uidependenily of whether it came Beforethe doctors who committed him or not, be disagreed with, and that he should report the matter to the House with the view of obtaining the Speaker'sruling on the point.

Mr. Speaker ruled that the Chairman of the Committee was right in his ruling. The Committee had full power to call for persons and to demand the production of papers and also to decide what evidence should be called. As, l.owever, his ruling had boen asked for. he ruled that it was the duty of the Committee to receive all possible information. A great deal of latitude should be allowed in such a matter.

Mr. "Bradney said that the first witness called by the Committee was the medical superintendent of the Auckland^ Mental Hospital and he, under crossexamination, had gone very fully^ inter the previous history of the petitioner,. There had\also been a lengthy examination of petitinoer by Mr. Robertson. Mr. Bradney was proceeding to further explain what had occurred in Committee, when Mr. Speaker said that he had already given his ruling, and that thei-*> was no necessity to go further into the matter at present.

Sir Joseph Ward remarked that there h.id been "a terrible lot of trouble over this Committee lately," ,Tid that he did not understand it. The Committeeshould go back to do its duty.