THE ASYLUM COMMISSION.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), 25 March 1881, Page 3

THE ASYLUM COMMISSION.

THE INSPECTOR'S CROSS-EXAMINATION,

Charles Edward Skae, cross-examined by Mr Shaw, said : I am Inspector of the Asylum, but cannot exactly say how long I have held the post. Was engaged in London in 1876 as Inspector of Lunatic Asylums, and Inspector of each district in the colony Tinder the Act. There are deputy inspectors in the districts, and official visitors. lam the legal Inspector of every district in the colony. There is no such office as Inspector of Lunatic Asylums recognised by law. I was engaged by contract. Previous to my engagement by the New Zealand Government, I was for eight years inspector of an asylum in Scotland. Mr Whitelaw's testimonials showed that he had had no experience, but Mr Whitelaw came to me with a letter from Admiral Hope, recommending him for an appointment, but his certificates diclosed no fitness for the post. I considered that Mr Whitelaw was a very able, reliable, and trustworthy man. The Asylum was a very small place.at the time, and I was very glad to get hold of a man who was to. me as being trustworthy. It was upon the strength of the recommendations from Admiral Hope and Lord Kinnaird that I engaged him. I considered his being new to Wellington an advantage. I thought a man of Wellington experience would engage in humbug and " hand and glove" business. Whitelaw had been engaged in oil worts at London. One recommendation stated that he had started life as a clerk, and had afterwards taken.charge of a responsible position on a railway station. I think it exceedingly unwise to advertise for candidates, as they would get applications from indivduals totally unfit and backed up by influence. It was not influence that induced me to appoint Whitelawl I recommeded the appointment excluding all influence. It is a very much simpler thing to manage an asylum with seventy patients than one with 2000 patients. It is not as easy to manage a large* institution by proper organisation as it is to manage a smaller one. I have come away from the Asylum: and expressed dissatisfaction at some things connected with it, but not with the general management. The Act providing for the Inspector's visits is a very Btupid and confused Act. One Inspector cannot practically carry out his work of inspection throughout every district in the colony. I omitted to sign the medical journal one year, from April to November, because I found it practically impossible to do so under my appointment. I condemned the restraint which was put upon Hall, besause I thought it was unnecessary. I did not make a minute of it, because I thought it was not serious enough. Was not aware that restraint was done away with at Home in leading asylums. I condemned the straight-jacket because I thought the men were kept in them too long. When I say' I am dissatisfied with the restraint, I do not mean to imply that the patients are treated cruelly, but merely wish to imply that they might be treated better. I never told Whitelaw to see that the patients did not hoot Mr Blackmore. lam prepared to say that Captain Maling did not intercede for Mcintosh's discharge. If I had spoken to Dr. Prance about .the matter I should recollect it. No other person has made a charge against me similar to the one Mr Blackmore made. lam aware that a person named Phillip Cotrel Bertrand has made an open charge against me. I believe that a man named Harding made a charge against me through you, and that you sent a letter to the Colonial Secretary containing the polite remark " that I am not worth my salt." lam aware that Bertrand's complaint contains seriou3 charges against Seager, and that ho charges me with preventing his discharge from tho Asylum. _ ' Mr Edwards objected to such allegations without they could be proved by facts. The Commission held with Mr Shaw, and he proceeded. Dr. Skae said : Mrs M'lntosh did not ask for charity at my hands, but I referred her to Mr Paterson. M'lntosh never spoke to me about two suits of clothes. 1 have nothing to do about appointing attendants. Spoke to Mr Whitelaw about the seclusion and restraint in December. I did not make entries of these things because I had spoken to Mr Whitelaw and I thought that sufficient. In reply to the Bench, witness said he did not feel justified in censuring tho Superintendent. In February there were only two males and two females under restraint. The entries in the book aro not correct. If I saw a patient in a straitjacket and was told by Mr Whitelaw that if it was taken off he would injure himself or another patient, I would not order it off.

By Mr Shaw: Instructions have not been given throughout the colony to discontinue the use of the strait jacket. I do not think it desirable that the rules should he printed and placed up in a conspicuous place for visitors to see them. I never saw it done in any asylum. The visiting days were cut down to one by my sanction, and I think it is quite satisfactory. Remember the interview which I had with you respecting your brother. I felt justified in writing to Mr Whitelaw and informing him that you had made a formal complaint, and should be neglecting my duty if 1 had not done so, You were very angry, and

complained very much about your brother. You seemed to think that Mr Whitelaw was a very high-handed man, and left in my mind the impression that Mr Whitelaw might have acted in an uncivil manner.

! By Mr Edwards : Hall is very destructive, and I think a man should use his ingenuity a little when placed in a position like Mr Whitelaw was. As a general rule, I disapprove of restraint which deprives a man of the use of his arms and logs. I believe there was too much restraint used in this Asylum, but am not justified in saying so with regard to individual cases. I recommend the appointment of deputyinspectors to asylums all through the colony, but as I am residing at Wellington, the Colonial Secretary thought there was no necessity for one here. I became acquainted with Sir James Hope at Home, and I think he would not give anyone a certificate without they were deserving of it. In reply to the Bench, witness said with regard to patients there were three things which could be done. They could be restrained, secluded, or drugged. Drugging a patient would probably injure him, and restraining or secluding him was far preferable. In Scotland the strait jacket was not done away with. I was not aware that. Miss Brigden was receiving £50 a year as matron. I always understood that Miss Brigden was a niece of Mrs Kettle's. If I thought it was not so I woidd not have sanctioned the arrangement which existed. This closed the evidence for the defence, and Mr Shaw stated that he intendod to call rebutting evidence. Mr Edwards strongly objected to such a course, and a lengthy discission ensued. The Bench subsequently decided to hear rebutting evidence, and to sit for that purpose. I The Court then adjourned. |