REST HOMES

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 227, 25 September 1929, Page 11

REST HOMES

PREMIER'S SCHEME.

RETREAT FOR UNFORTUNATES

"EACH CASE ON ITS MERITS."

CONTROL BY COMMISSION.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Kcporter.)

WELLINGTON, this clay

In a brief explanation .of. the Destitute Persons Rest Home ..Bill (described in yesterday's "Star"), the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, stated in the House yesterday that the bill was introduced to give effect to promise made by him in Auckland before the session, that, a home would be established, poesibly near Auckland, for elderly people in unfortunate circumstances. Sir Joseph said the home would be designed to shelter old people of a certain class", as, for instance, some who were now in gaol or in uncongenial homes. It would serve to relieve the strain on mental hospitals. Both men and women would be admitted. The scheme would start with only one home, but more could be opened later. He believed the scheme would grow. At present he could not say how many the first home would accommodate. Mr. W. J. Jordan (Manukau) asked whether a man detained in a new home of tliis kind, instead of a mental hospital, would be regarded as being in a mental hospital as far ae his wife was concerned. Could the wife of such an inmate draw the usual pension? Sir Joseph said every case would have to be considered on ite merits. It would depend on a patient's mental condition whether his destitute wife, received anything. Mr. J. A. Young (Hamilton) asked whether the Mental Hospitals Department or the Mental Defectives Board would control the home. Sir Joseph: It could not be under the control of either. It is to be set up under a special commission. The Rev. Clyde Carr (Timaru) suggested that homeless persons such as those who were now sent to gaol as "rogues and vagabond's," for want of another place to put them, might" be admitted. Sir Joseph: This bill proposes to deal with the homeless. It may be a committee objection whether we have gone far enough. Mr. F. Langstone (Waimarino) asked whether the inmates of tho- new home would have to forfeit their pension for their maintenance. Sir Joeeph: Each case would have to be considered on its merits. The bill was read a first time.