MENTAL HOSPITALS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1932, Page 6

MENTAL HOSPITALS

MORE ACCOMMODATION NEEDED,

MINISTER’S STATEMENT

“ WELLINGTON, November 10.

“The question of overcrowding has to he met, and I have addressed a memo to the Minister of Public Works pressing’ - very hard for extension Of accommodation. Tam asking tor £150,0..0, compared with £50,C00 last year,” said the Hon. J. A. Young, in the House to-day, when' referring to- the accommodation for mental patients.

Tlie Minister said that" the amount provided c-n this war’s estimates—£.sllo3 for buildings, improvements, repairs and replacements—.foully referred to maintenance. Provision for other wdrlis would be made in the Public. Works estimates. The £150,000 he was asking for had- to come out of borrowed money and therewere great- difficulties; to-day. in obtaining money. Mr-Young.referred to the system of classification ahd to thofee who hadl criitaitval tendencies in a certain direction, who v‘ere mostly mischievous. Mr Barnard (Napier): What is done with them? <

Mr Young said that’ they were classified bv experts as social defectives under the machinery of the 1928 Act. In the meantime they had to he treated in mental hospitals or he placed with pifivstfe people untfe’r strict control. When in mental hospitals’ they wefie from’ tlie other type of patients. Three villas toad been erected and five more were wanted, and toe hoped that next year there would ho sufficient accommodation to meet all requirements.