HOKITIKA MENTAL HOSPITAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18248, 5 August 1921, Page 9

HOKITIKA MENTAL HOSPITAL

STATEMENT BY THIS MINISTER. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 4. The Hon. C. J. Farr, Minister in charge of Mental Hospitals, has made a statement based on a report by Dr. Hay concerning conditions prevailing at the Hokitika Mental Hospital, so severely criticised a few days ago by Bishop Julius. In the course of a statement the jMinlster says it is admitted the buildings are old and out of date, and that there is no agricultural land attacked to the institution, .which is a thing generally aimed at by the Department. Under the. circumstances the Department has been considering whether it should not close the West Goast Institution and provide for the patients at the Christchurch Mental Hospital. This they have not been able to do, owing to tiic negotiations for the purchase of more land falling through. The Department had, considered making better arrangements at Hokitika. Such proposals are noxv in hand, and he thought Bishop Julius .could not have been aware of these facts when he gave the interview to the Press. Mr Parr quotes the report of the official visitor to the Hokitika Hospital. This visitor states he “had always found everything in the hospital, spick and span." anti the patients clean and well looked after He spoke highly of th-.' new superintendent, Dr. Buchanan.