MENTAL HOSPITALS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16488, 2 March 1914, Page 2

MENTAL HOSPITALS.

EXTENSIONS IN PROGRESS. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, February 28. Unfortunately the demands _ upon mental hospital accommodation in New Zealand necessitate constant building and for some years there has been a certain amount of overcrowding in these, institutions. The Minister in charge of Hospitals, the Hon R. H. Rhodes, informed the “ Lyttelton Times ” correspondent to-day that a large new ward at Avondale, Auckland, is just out of the bricklayer’s hands, and has to be plastered before being available for patients. Another new wing of this hospital has been delayed owing to the large amount of rock which has had to bo blasted out of the foundations. Following on the report of the Sitnnyside inquiry last year the Mental Hospitals Department put in hand preparations for a new hospital and .reception ward, to he built on land near Lincoln Road purchased some time ago by the Government. The plans are approaching completion and tenders will soon be called. Several appointments of assistant medical officers are about to be made. Probably the public generally is not aware that persons may voluntarily become patients at the mental hospitals, but this is the case. The last amendment of the law made it possible for persons who are subject to periodic fits of mental disease to receive suitable treatment, for which they may pay. ay'-";:'''"''