PAYMENT OF INMATES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2216, 31 July 1914, Page 11

PAYMENT OF INMATES

-" IN MENTAL HOSPITALS. . Reccntly.Mr. T, K. Sidey,' member for Duncdin South, suggested. to tho Minister in Charge of Mental Hospitals (the. Hon. It, H. Rhodes) that some credit shoujd be.-given to pationts_ in a mental' hospit-al who do work which is-useful - and'necessary for the institution, and that their relatives should be relieved.in whole ol - in part, of . payment towards the maintenance of'such patients. The Hon. R. H. .Rhodes mado the following reply to. the request on Wednesday :-r"Employment is part of ,ihe treatment of a patient and contributes largely to 'contentment and recovery. Without this outlet for energy the care and control of patients would become more difficult and.costly. Work is varied, so as to' suit the capacity of the patients and is not regarded, except incidentally; from the economio stand-, .point. A,t .times on account of .the.paid supervision necessary and other factors the work would be done at a loss were it not that it was an agent in the treatment of the patient. No person liable' for maintenance is asked to pay . more than he can reasonably afford, and therefore ho, real hardship .is being imposed upon the relatives of'the few patients whose work has any, actual value."