SIX NEW VILLAS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1933, Page 7

SIX NEW VILLAS

DOMINION’S MENTAL HOSPITALS

PLANS FOR INCREASING ACCOMMODATION.

WELLINGTON, December 13

New villas at Iloki.ika, Templeion, and Christchurch are proposed in the Government’s programme for increasing the accommodation of the Dominion's mental hospitals, which was described in the House of Representatives this afternoon by the Minister for Health, the Hon. J. .-h Young. During the discussion on the estimates Mr Young said the Government proposed to put in hand as rapidly as possible the necessary to prevent overcrowding. Seven new villas were now under construction, and six more would be started 'next February. A total capital expenditure of £90,000 was contemplated over three years.

The question was raised by Air P. Fraser (Lab., Wellington Central), who emphasised that the greatest problem in the Dominion’s system of mental hospitals was overcrowding. In spite of efforts to transfer as many patients as possible, he said, Porirua wag still overcrowded. ’Such a state of affairs was unjust for the patients, the nursing staff, and the department. The House knew the department’s policy on this question, bui he would like to hear from the Minister the policy of the Government. Overcrowding had ibewi followed to continue too long, and it had now become a serious problem.

The Minister ;said the department wCjj building two *> villas at Kingseat, near Papakura. one at Tokanui, near Te Ahvamutii, three at Stoke, in the Nelson district, and one at HokitikaAs these villas now under construction were each capable of holding 50 parents, they would in the aggregate provide cecommodation for 350 patients. The new villa at Hokitika would be available next week. The Cabinet had also approved the construction in February next of two extra villas at Kingseat. *>ne <lt Hokitika, two at Templeton, and one. at Christchurch. These villas would come under, the next jlejjr’s building . programme. Arrangements had also been made with the Treasury for the provision of £90.000 over three years for capital expenditure on mental hospitals.