CORRESPONDENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1921, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE MENTAL HOSPITAL. ; I (To the Editor). | Sir.-- | was pleased to note in your 1 issue iff Saturday last an extract from Hansard, in which the Member for Westland bad sum,'thing to say to the Hon Mr Parr. Minister in Charge of Mental Hospitals with regard to the , conditions obtaining at Seavjew. 1 have ; visited ibis institution on different Ac- '■ raviolis bulb in my professional capacity ( and also as a Justice of the Peace. Iml | not until a few days ago had I seen all

ov<»r, it and I luivc* no hesitation in sin jnji that I believe tli:it if the people of tills ami otlmr parts of the Dominion wore able to soo for themselves the disgraceful state of aifairs existing there it would at once heroine a public sennHlal. Some time ago liishop Julius wrote to the press ami threw n rood deal of light on the matter, for whirl, as | read in your paper, lie "ns tti ea 1 * lv reproved by the Minister, who said that he. the Bishop had rushed into print over conditions at the local institution before ascertaining the lull fait.-. I wish to substantiate every word that the Bishop wrote, and it is 'my' opinion that anyone visiiinyr the institution and seeing as 1 saw. the gloomy dilapidated old buildings, that have imt seen paint, fill- years, hoards in ninny places rotten. 'pirFs mine, so that to wnlh across the floor is' like a ride on a switchback railway, ventilation had. the p, l liv lots of .-Ctillcrics where the washinrj up is done, dark and dismal, brollies rotten, what doe- duty a- hath room, laundry hakehoiise and kitchen, in siieh a sad state of disrepair that no self respecting person would tolerate them ill their own home, drainage had. lavatories dilapidated and primitive. In fact, the whole plan! is ill an insanitary itmdition of senile decay. 1 say that, anyone seeing the conditions prevailiu‘r and considering them tolerable, k-r alone satisfactory, has in my opinion no 1 right to hi* allowed to leave the instillation. It miisi he borne m mind that this place is a “Mental Hospital* and there are many eases which with proper conditions and treatment, call lie cured and the very object of these institutions is, wherever it is possible to restore the unfortunate patients to a normal mental state. I feel -uiv that unv reasonable person going through that Mental Hospital would agree with me that the existing conditions would lend tit make them worse instead ol better with which opinion Hr Baird has openly concurred. The question oeeured to me on going through the place “Is the loss ot ones reason a riituo or a misl'ort II lie r” and even if. it wire a crime, why should the afflicted ones be subjected to conditions Mime ol which are infinitely worse, than those exisling ill some of our gaols, especially when liaise detained are called upon t«> pay IfJ “s a week, for their detention. 1 make no apology for asking the indulgence nl your ouliil'ins in ibis matter, as 1 am prompted to write, only hy ieelitigs ot Immunity, and I can toil you. Sir. that when | saw those poor imfora imate individuals (puntered in what was once the gfiol. with a forbidding twelve foot, iron walk round the yard, di-mal tells with the walls painted l” representstone, iron doors, iu which 1 was a hurled porthole, my heart went out to them because some of these patients have come from the higher stations in life and the higher rungs of the social ladder and tire at. times iplile ratioiml. and such an environment I teel sun 1 would obliterate any chance of their ultimate recovery. I, can only say that 1 hope some pressure will he! brought, to hear to get the Minister ami the (ioveriimeiit td recognise their responsibility hi the! matter and place on. the Estimates an adequate sum to rebuild tho greater part, of the institution and niako it more tit tor tho ipurposo lor which it wits intended. Tin'* locality is nil ideal one, and let it he remembered that every cure eliVclod helps to relieve tho hurdoii on tin* State. Tn conclusion I would tike to say that I think Prom the medical superintendent down, deserve tho great's l credit for the manner in whfc-h they carry out their duties, under tho most adverse rireiimstanres. Thank injr you tor your valuahh space. . - 1 am ole., ii. m. eorhsox.