THE GLOBE. MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1881. THE WELLINGTON LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2227, 18 April 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1881. THE WELLINGTON LUNATIC ASYLUM.

The report of the Royal Commission appointed to enquire into charges preferred against the management of the Wellington Lunatic Asylum has at last been published, and must be regarded as a very valuable document indeed. As indicating the necessity that existed for a thorough overhaul, as it were, of a particular institution which has been badly and inefficiently controlled, it has done a good work, but its real value lies in the fact that it proves most conclusively the urgent need for amendment of the present law affecting the control of asylums for the insane. But a word, in the first place, may he said about the report itself as an official record. We think it must he clear to all who have studied it that the Commissioners have done their work thoroughly well. The enquiry, it seems evident, was conducted in a spirited and business-like manner, induced no doubt by a strong

determination to sift to the bottom all charges made against the good repute of the institution. As the Commissioners in their preamble indicate, the responsibility placed upon them was considerable, but the completeness and perfect clearness of the result is such as to leave no doubt that for once a Royal Commission has done good service to the State, and at no small cost of time and patient industry to the Commissioners themselves. The opinions based upon the voluminous, varied, and frequently conflicting evidence, boar internal evidence of having been most carefully weighed. The language employed is manifestly guarded, but decisive withal, and bold, wherever it becomes necessary to state a plain fact for or against the management of the Asylum. For these considerations it seems to us that the Report may be regarded as thoroughly sound, and, ipso facto, completely satisfactory. With regard to the disclosures made in their report, and the probable result thereof, wo have already referred to the main position attacked by the Commissioners, namely, the imperfect state of legislation affecting the general management of lunatic asylums in the colony. This, as the report freely admits, was not a question immediately within the province of the Commission to discuss, and is mentioned because it was forced upon their attention as the underlying cause to which the maladministration disclosed was indirectly referable, a considerable portion of tho mass of evidence taken showing up defects in the general system. Therefore we do not propose to say much on this head. Tho report speaks for itself, and tho wide publicity given to it will no doubt have a salutary effect in drawing popular attention to the demand for fresh legislation. In fact, the principal, if not the only, point of importance to bo considered in this direction, is that tho laxity of the present law is such that a long course of maladministration, and worse, could be permitted to run on unchecked by so much as a word. Tho report of the Commission goes to show that in many respects tho Mount Tiew Asylum has, for years past, been carried on in a manner compared with which the conduct of some of the worst private madhouses of a bygone time were gentle, considerate, and humane. This is the essence of the report. That such a state of things could be possible in this age of boasted civilisation is a sufficient wonder. That men can be found like Whitelaw in responsible positions is not, perhaps, so much a matter of surprise, when we consider that nearly all such appointments are made by “wire-pulling” of one kind or another, and not out of consideration for merit. But what shall be said of Dr. Skae, the high official who permitted atrocities of the vilest kind to be perpetrated under his very nose, and used no effort to put a stop to them? We speak strictly within tho book in saying this. It appears that ono of the duties of the Inspector is to report from time to time to tho Ministry anything that may call for amendment in the management of the Asylum. His duties as defined by the Act, in fact, are inquisitorial; and further, vide the report, “he is at stated intervals to visit and inspect, and report generally to the Colonial Secretary.” The italics are our own. Not only, be it observed, is the Inspector to suggest alterations or improvements when such may suggest themselves in tho first place to him, but he is, “at stated intervals,” to report generally. Now, proceeding but a step in the report, what do we find ? After detailing a single instance of appalling cruelty practised upon one of the patients, described in general terms as “ seven months of totally unjustifiable torture,” the report proceeds to show that Dr. Skae, though quite aware of the circumstances—and therefore permit us to adJ, a party to the inhuman and disgraceful proceedings,— took no steps to bring the matter under notice. To quote from the report, “he —(notwithstanding his expressed disapproval of the treatment) —did not on the occasion of any official visit to the Asylum from August to the present date, numbering in all some twelve visits, minute a complaint in the Inspector’s book, or report the occurrence to tho Colonial Secretary, as required by the Act under which he is appointed (vide the Lunatics’ Act, 1868, section 58).” Herein, no doubt. Dr. Skae clearly omitted to perform a duty cast upon him by the terms of his appointment. Under tho circumstances, the obvious course for him to have pursued in the case of Hall was to have put in motion such machinery as was available to have the matter rectified. It is not only a solitary instance, however, in which the incapacity or unworthiness of this official has been made manifest. It appears that “ with various modifications, the same remark applies to Dr. Skae’s neglect with regard to a number of other patients.” In the face of these astounding revelations, surely there tan be but a single opinion with regard to Dr. Skae: that he is a person totally unfit to occupy the position which he now holds. Indeed, we would go farther, for it is not a question of mere incompetence in a professional sense, and would say that the man who could so monstrously abuse a solemn charge such as that committed to him, is utterly unworthy to be placed in any position of trust and responsibility whatsoever. The report exhibits the conduct of the superintendent of Mount View Asylum, Mr. Whitelaw, as cruel and callous in the extreme, and points to various instances of torture inflicted upon the helpless patients. But these do not call for further remark. It is pleasing to bo able to turn to a brighter side of the picture drawn by tho Commission, which shows the “ cleanliness, general order, and discipline of the front wards of the Asylum,” together with tho gentle care and general kindliness displayed by tho female attendants, against whom not a single complaint reached the Commission. As stated before in the beginning of this article, the Report appears to be carefully compiled, strictly impartial, and is evidently the result of a most complete and searching investigation. We hope to see it acted upon by the proper authorities with as little delay as possible. In tho meantime the disclosures will doubtless be sufficient to induce an immediate change in tho management of the Asylum, and the treatment of tho unfortunate inmates.