A BISHOP’S CHARGES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 266, 4 August 1921, Page 4

A BISHOP’S CHARGES

HOKITIKA MENTAL HOSPITAL THE MINISTER IN REPLY Severe condemnation of the Hokitika Mental Hospital was uttered a few days ago at Christchurch by Bishop Julius. Referring to this matter yesterday, the Minister for Health (Hon. C. J. Parr) quoted from a report he had received from Dr. Hay, tho Inspector of Mental Hospitals. This report stated that it was correct, as stated by Bishop Julius, that the silo of tho institution was a beautiful one. It was recognised that it was necessary to have some agricultural land attached to such an institution. so that patients could work in the open. Unfortunately, however, there was no such land in tho vicinity of this institution. It was also admitted that the buildings were old and soniewhat out of date. Under the circumstanced tho Department had been considering whether it should not close the West Coast institution altogether, and provide for the patients in the Christchurch mental hospital. When the purchase of more land at Christchurch was being considered last year, plans were made for receiving the West Coast patients at Sunnyside, but unfortunately after somewhat lengthy negotiations the proposed purchase fell through. The Department therefore had to consider better Arrangements at Hokitika. > Dr. Hay believed, added the Minister, that though no agricultural land was available at Hokitika, something might be done by interesting the patients in ■forestry. the land being suitable for timber growing. Silver pine especially would do well on such land. “Recently," said Mr. Parr, “I asked the Department to make a final decision with regard to the Hokitika hospital, and it was decided when we got a suitable medical officer to go into the question in all its aspects. As a matter of fact, in. the Game week that Bishop Julius was there an architect from the Public Works Department was employed in drafting plans for the rebuilding of the hospital in sections. This hod been arranged with the view to forming a small model institution at Hokitika. I don’t think Bishop Julius could have been aware of these facts when he gave the Press his interview.”

Mr. Parr produced the report of the official visitor to the Hokitika hospital. This visitor said he "had always found everything in the hospital spick and span,” and the patients clean and well looked after. He spoke highly of the new superintendent, Dr. Buchanan.