House of Representatives.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11057, 19 September 1903, Page 2

House of Representatives.

WELLINGTON, September 18. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY.

The House met at 2.30, and almost immediately -went into Committee of Stipply for the further consideration of the Estimates.

The fira,t class taken was that of Lunacy and Charitable Department. In reply to questions, the Hon. HallJones said he was adready making inquiries on the subject of the classification of initiates, and had ascertained that in various asylums there were confined 374 persons who were suffering simply from old ago, amd were practically harmless, while there were 143 imbeciles and idiots. He was' determined to have these 517 out of the asylums and put into more suitable establishments. He was also making provision which would more than obviate overcrowding, and the result would be better --facilities for classification, and ho believed a greater percentage of recoveries. He was 1 considering the question of remodelling the iaw i*elating to commitment, of lunatics 1 , and he was in that connection endeavouring to- make the relatives of' a certain class of people now in asylums take a full share of their responsibilities.' With regard to the two classes he had, previously mentioned, ho was making; inoxiiries for a building to I which they could be removed without waiting for the erection of a new building. If he was unsuccessful in his search he -would select a site and erect a building. As to his future policy, he did not believe in large asylums, but in a series of smailler detached buildings, in which classification could bo carried out, cmo portion of the building being devoted exclusively to the reception of new patients, and there should also bo wards at hospitals to which patients could be sent before being drafted to the various asylums. The' term "lunatic asylums" woujd in future be abolished, and the institutions styled "hospitals for mental dineases." He intended to try the experij raent "'of 1 ' women, doctors) in {he female wards of these hospitals, and he would have earefnl inquiry made into the cause of the increase in lunacy which had taken place of late years. He hoped that •by next session members would see the f«very great- improvements effected. The subject' of o Board oC Appeal fov asylum attendants would br> considered.

After two a«d i-lialf hours' discussion, the Vote for lunatic asyhimu passed without alteration. The House rose at 5.30.

The House resumed a» 7..J0.

The Depart Ji)?iii of Labour Estimates and' Minos 'Department vote were passed after discussior.

After, the Telegraph Office closed tin* , Agriculture Department Estimates passed unaltered.

The Railway Department Estimates were entered upon shortly before 2 a.m. A lengthy discussion t(K>k place as to the amounts that should be charged" to revenue and what to capital.

Sir Joseph Ward rontended that if tho ones put forward by those opposed to .the present system were put into practice it would crush the life blood out of the users of the railway.

Sir William Russell snirl he hart looked very carefully into the mntter, and it wne borne very heavily upon his mind that the whole system of railway accounts in the Australasian colonies was radically wrong. Sir Joseph Ward paid h<* would never subscribe to the doctrine that the cost of a railway carria.ge. which was to last 30 years or so, was to be taken out of the pocket 3 of the people by putting murderous Tates upon them.

After at -orolonijed discussion the wholr vote passed unaltered. .

Prosrreps- was reported and the House rose at ,7.40.