MENTAL HOSPITALS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1841, 29 August 1913, Page 6

MENTAL HOSPITALS.

« BUILDING PROGRAMME. THE OVERCROWDING EVIL. • i On being interviewed Inst evening regarding the matter of over-crowding, iho Hon. R. lleaton Rhodes, Minister in charge of Mental Hospitals, stated that on assuming controi of tlio Department, and later on after an inspection of the mental hospitals, ho learned that for tlio last three years there had been insufficient accommodation for tho patients. "1 therefore," he continued, "determined to cone immediately with tho building problem, and til endeavour to expe- * dito tho plans that were already iu course of preparation. With this object m view, arrangements wero mado with tlie Public Works Department for a second draughtsman to give "his services aloiifr with the 0110 who had already been detailed for tho work, so that plans for the two large brick buildings at <Jio Auckland Mental Hospital might bo expedited simultaneously. In spite of this, howovor, it was some time before the piaus and specifications were completed and tenders accepted; hut a commencement has now been mado with one of these blocks, and it is anticipated that tlio second will bo commenced .shortly, l'hese two buildings will provide accom* modation for 100 111011 and 75 women. In tho meantime buildings have been completed at Wnitati, Sunnysido, Porirun, and Tokanui. Taking the institutions as,a whole, tlio position at tho present time is that we are short of accom* modation for 40 men and 83, women, I might mention incidentally that the admissions' of women last year wero unprecedented, being about twice tlio normal increase. With the brick buildings referred to, this surplus will be moro than wiped out on tho male side, and almost wiped out on the female side; but I recognise that tho accommodation is by no means sufficient., and in tlio com.. 1 ing year it is proposed to build so as to 1 provide for 180 men and 160 women over and above tho accommodation already referred to. This will not only provide for tho annual increase, but wiil also giye us surplus room, which will ha most desirable. ,r