The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1925. IMPORTANT REFORM.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1925. IMPORTANT REFORM.

I'm: Minister in charge nt Mental Hospitals liai indicated m I’arliamt'iit tliat in the iiilirse nt tile next- lew months it is proposed in put into operation a programme winch will eventually place the mental hospitals cl the Dominion mi a level with it not on a hotter looting. than any other institutions of this kind in the world, lb i> the aim of tiie .Mental Hn.oiitaU Department to achieve -ucli a worthy objective. “At the outset," said .Sir .Maui I’otuare.

“I want to he quite candid and say that our mental hospitals have not been altogether what they should have lieen. I don't blame any individual; 1 just Marne the circumstances. First there was the war, and then the slump and other things. Ketorms should have Men (arried out thirty years ago, lint within a few months it is hoped to com monte the programme which will place them on a level, it not on a hotter footing, than any other kind in the world. I think we should lead the world in these reforms." The Minister referred briefly to the reforms it was hoped tn undertake during the year, commencing with the purchase of necessary land. Maud would he required for the removal nt the Auckland institution, and some would he needed for tanning pm poses. It was the object of the Department to make the places self-contained as far as possible by enabling them to produce their own fresh milk and vegetables—-

an essential part of the cure. The Minister stated that out of the recoverable patients who went into the institutions, only two per cent, were hopeful eases, lull the authorities would eoneeutrale on the fullest and best treatment which could he given to them. When ninny ot the old buildings were constructed. ventilation bad not been properly attended to. but all over the country at the present tint" this matter was receiving attention. and the larger wards were going through a process of division, which, in addition to gi) ing increased health facilities, prevented a noisy mouther from keeping the other patient- awake at night. Another -iep had been the iimugunit;i - heme for the elassi(ieafion of patients. Clinics were being ostablislied at the main general hospitals, and there persons suffering from menial disorders received advhe and treatment. and if the circumstances warranted admission the patient was admitted to an appropriate division of the mental hospital under the scheme. The endeavour was to make the business as humane as possible. It was proposed lo establish sanatoria in connection with the main mental hospitals, and ibis dispensed with the necessity of half-way houses. There the patient would he properly attended to. without even encountering the stigma attached to the little ‘‘half-way house. Arrangements for the establishment of these places wore well under way. The Minister has outlined a programme which will go far to meet the necessities of an unfortunate .situation. And while he was frank about reforms which should have been carried out in years past there are still relornis must urgent for attention which should lake precede!! e even now I. 100 th clicle,.;ls -p iken of absorb too much of I lie ready money available. There is no war and no shunt) now to block the wav of overhauling the t ion provided and introducing that degree of ventilation and sanitation where folk are herded together which will

remove the menace of recurring contagious fevers, ai.d l.y sound bodily health give the patients the best of chance from the onl-ct. At the Hokitika Mental Hospital, for instance, there is still .standing, and ocupied. the old gaol block -'here recurring eases ol typhoid and enteric occur, been u-e of defect i) e sani tali mi. So me thing is being dune in the way of providing a new building, but !L is not columndioils enough, uulort unat dy. In aeeniilmudate all tile patient.- iui» within the obsolete ami di-ease infected building. The result will I•• tha I sonic score or more pal lent.- inn-t eimtian to he ke| t- in <111:1 rtcr-, whi h not mi any respect, octua rdlv or inwardly, are an v i red it to the li lie ia- lit lit ion surroundings, and which are a sear on th ■ landscape. Infectious complain, have recti ford -o frequently that tb sanitation at the in-lil in ion sbouhl be ic\ i«■ ; .\ed nio- 1 eiii-elully. A -y-M-in habeen plamnd and certain ;on in-et ionmade, Inn ill- • eont cn leiiee- do not appear ad quale. 'I In* limiter, a- the Mini-ler will admit, we are -tire, is of t!it< highest importance, and in nut reforms contemplated, we would urge that the comfortable and -unitary housing of the patient- should he the lir-t consideration. Seeing that aeeoinino-ilalio-i for a score or uioro patients would remove the renreaeli toi the im-ne-iliaU present, the cost involved iu> ? esl l amalinilrv. nlul lliere i- surely no i on-on w h.v from a Inalt !i point ol ■. ie v. the work should ml 1 e taken in hand. The old gaol uuarlers should he razed tu tin- ground with th ■ lea-t pn-siiib- delav reiiuiving an un igbtl- - i no! nr.-, and one '.•■ hu ll is | lainlx i u-a t! it ai v. Ii should no lon:--r remain pair f i It-* local mini! al institution.