THE MENTAL HOSPITAL

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1921, Page 2

THE MENTAL HOSPITAL

INTENTIONS OF DEPARTMENT

STATEMENT BY HON BARR

| nr TEI.KGJI.VVU —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

WELLINGTON, Aug. 4

Hon. G. J. Parr, Minister in charge of Mental Hospitals has made a statement based on a report by Dr Hay. concerning the conditions prevailing at Hokitika Mental Hospital, so severely criticised a few days ago by Bishop Julius. ”

In the course of the statement, he says it is admitted that the buildings tire old and out of date, and that there is no agricultural land attached to the institution which is a thing generally aimed at by the Department. Under idle circumstanoes the Department has been considering whether ■they should not close the West Coast institution altogether and provide for the patients at Christchurch Mental Hospital. This they have not been able to do, owing to negotiations for the purchase of more land falling through. The Department had therefore to consider the making of better arrangements at Hokitika. Suif.li proposals arc now in hand, and he thought Bishop Julius could not have been aware of the facts when he gave the interview to the press. Hon. Parr quotes the report of an official visitor to Hokitika Mental Hospital. This visitor states he had always found everything in the Hospital ’Tick and span, and the patients clean and well looked after. He spoke high, •y of the new Superintendent, Dr Buck a n an.