WHAT GOES ON BEHIND GRIM WALLS OF THE N.Z. ASYLUMS?

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 167, 20 July 1946, Page 5

WHAT GOES ON BEHIND GRIM WALLS OF THE N.Z. ASYLUMS?

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE (P.A.) Parliament Bldgs., July 19.

The Minister of Health (Mr. Nordmeyer), replying ot Mr. C. W. Bowden (Opp., Wellington West), said that the booklet entitled “Misery Mansion—Grim Tales of New Zealand Asylums,’” ws so full of factual inaccuracies that it carried its own refutation. Constructive criticism of any .phase of mental hospital administration was always appreciated, particularly when it came from an informed and unbiassed observer. Members of Parliament were invited to visit mental hospitals at any time without notice, and ascertain' for themselves the conditions In these institutions. Mr. Bowden said the Minister’s answer aid not allay the unrest prevalent throughout New Zealand. Too

many protests had reached members for the matter to be brushed aside in the way the Minister had. If the matters in the book were correct, then it was a grave impeachment of the Government.

A Government member: They are not correct.

Mr. Bowden said that if the allegations were untrue, it was an unjustifiable attack on the doctors, nurses and staff in mental hosnitals.

The book referred to an “awful death rate,” and said that 2000 innocent martyrs had perished in captivity since Mr. Nordmeyer took charge. The author referred to the bullying of an old man of 80 years of age, and a beating-up technique. He also claimed to have witnessed a nurse dragging a female patient along by the feet. If these things were untrue, what was the Minister going to do to clear the character of the doctors and nurses in mental hospitals? If the charges were untrue, lot the person responsible for them be brought to the bar of justice.