LOOPHOLE IN ACT

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1933, Page 8

LOOPHOLE IN ACT

certification of lunatics.

Allegations in the house

WELLINGTON, December 12

An allegation that section eight of the Mental Defectives Act, 1928, gave wide opportunities .for relatives to placeii' person whom they did not like ] n a mental hospital -without clue cause was made in the House of Representatives this afternoon by Mr R. McKeen (Lab., Wellington -South) during the discussion of the mental hospitals estimates. Mr McKeen quoted a particular instance .that had com e ; under his notice in Wellington during the last few weeks. The Minister for Health (the lion. J. A. Young), in reply, drew att-ntion to numerous safeguards in the clause complained of, -.and assured Mr McKeen tint there must be another side to the case he had presented. Mr McKeen said the ease was that of a man, 65 years of age, mentally strong but physically weak. His wife had a certain interest in a religious organisation, and so had bis family, but he had no inclination for it. His wife conceived the idea of getting rid of the old man and one would hardly credit how it was done, said Mr McKeen. She submitted to the superintendent of the Porirua asylum evidence that hi s parents and relatives had suffered from mental trouble, and arranged that he should be examined. Another doctor was called in. THE QUESTIONS ASKED. “The questions put to the old man as a test of his sanity absolutely staggered me,” said Mr McKeen) He was asked: “Do you play cricket?” and his reply was: “Don't me silly; I am 65 years -of «age.” Then he was lasked • “Do you attend football matches?” land he said: “No, I haven’t been to .a football match for years.” “When were you last at the pictures?” they asked, and h e said: “I haven’t been to the pictures for two J years because I can’t afford them.” Then he was asked: “How would you like a trip to Porirua?” The man naturally showed fight, ,as any' other normal man would have, and a policeman and an attendant from Porirua were sent for, and took him off to Porirua. When the magistrate was asked to sign the order for commital he went out and saw the man for himself and came to the conclusion that he Was perfectly sane. He refused to sign the order, and in two days the man was released. He stayed with friends for a day or two, and had now returned home. Thg Minister said he had been responsible for the section of the act that Mr McKeen wag complaining of. Formerly a man could be committed on the certificate of one doctor, but now the certificates of two medical men competent -to. .judge on such cases -were required. Furthermore, the superintendent of a mental hospital had to make a special examination, and forward a Irate had not gone out? The Minister: Under this section there is a provision that a magistrate is .required to visit the patient. Mr McKeen: What would have happened in this case if the magistrate is required to visit the patient. “I will be very pleased to confer with the honourable member, and go into the whole matter and make the fullest inquiry,” said the Minister, “because I am certain that there must be another side *to,,the st-pry.”