WELLINGTON ASYLUM INQUIRY.

Patea Mail, 31 March 1881, Page 4

WELLINGTON ASYLUM INQUIRY.

The above inquiry was concluded on the 25th instant. The Post says : All that now remains for the Asylum Commissioners to perform is to visit the institution to make themselves personally acquainted with the present condition of affairs, and afterwards frame their report and forward it to the proper quarter. The investigation commenced on the 17th of February, since which date seventeen afternoons have been occupied in taking the necessary evidence. Altogether 58 different witnesses have been examined, of which number 26 were called in support of the case for the complainant (Mr J. H. Shaw), 27 were examined for the defence, and G were “ rebutting” witnesses. Ur Gillon, the resident surgeon attached to the Wellington Hospital ; Mr Christopher Duggan, a warder ; and Mr Whitelaw, the superintendent, were called both on behalf of the complainant and the other side ; while four other witnesses were recalled. The complainant’s case extended over six afternoons, and that for the defence over nine, evidence in rebuttal occupying another afternoon, and the final addresses the remaining one. The total number of unbroken hours during which the Commissioners have sat reaches 50; and among the witnesses were patients and ex-inmates, warders and ex-warders, the secretary, superintendent, medical officer, inspector, the ex-matron, female attendants (past and present), men who have been employed on contracts at the institution, persons whose relatives or friends are or have been inmates, representatives of the police force, an officer from the Government Audit Department, and two experts. The short-hand-writer’s transcript of the evidence forms a luigh pile of folios. Whether it will be printed or not is a matter for the Government to decide upon, but the great expense which such an undertaking would entail renders it exceedingly probable that this mil not be done. The period for the return of the Commission, it will be remembered, has been extended until tire 19th proximo. Mr J. H. Shaw, the complainant, in summing up directed the attention of the Commission to the charges made by himself, which, ho said, were very specific in their character. The charge regarding his brother —a paying patient—who was re])resented to be most unwilling to work and at the same time had been employed in menial drudgery, appeared to have been practically admitted. So also was the charge that Mr Whitelaw had been in the habit of visiting the female side of the Asylum unaccompanied by the matron or female attendant. As to the charges regarding M’lntosh, that witnesses story had been corroborated on all essential points by persona who had no motive whatever for telling lies. The showerbath occurrence was even corroborated by one of the witnesses for the defence—exwarder Carroll. Something had been said about Mr Whitelaw’s inexperience of lunatic asylums. That excuse did net help the matter a bit—rather the reverse in fact, for this was a reason why such an appointment ought never to have been made. For the defence, the fact that some of the persons who now made charges of cruelty, did not then make complaint at the time they were subject to that cruelty, had been dwelt upon at some length. It was not to be wondered at that those persons did not complain at the time. However much might be their mental aberration for the moment, their instinct would remain sufficiently powerful to prevent them from doing so until the proper time arrived. Now, a great number of people had been brought there to say they had visited the Asylum and seen nothing to condemn. This reminded him of the story about the prisoner who was charged with appropriating a pair of boots. A number of witnesses swore positively as to the theft, and the prisoner men produced about three times as many witnesses to swear that he was one of the honestest men they had ever known. In summing up, the learned Judge said—Gentlemen of the jury, this is a very simple case. It is the case of a very honest man who has stolen a pair of boots.” (Laughter.) This was the sort of evidence which had been given by Mr Hayes and Mr Jack Maginnity, for example. (A laugb.) It had no weight whatever. Respecting the patient named Anderson, he (the complainant) was of opinion that that unfortunate man had been hammered into idiotcy, and the wonder was ho was still alive. He (the complainant) contended that the charges made during the present enquiry had been more than amply proved. Most serious—terrible —things had come to light. Numerous witnesses had been called to

meet those charges, hut their evidence, which might otherwise have been of value in raising a presumption in the defendant’s favor, was of no value whatever when compared with the evidence on the other side. Implicated officials had met some of the charges by a flat denial, and had thus placed the Commission in this dilemma —they asked the Commission to believe that the persons deposing to these charges were telling deliberate untruths. This was swearing “ too good ” ; the)- had done the thing far 100 well, and must accept the consequences, from which there was no escape. The whole enquiry, he concluded, was of a nature that surprised even himself. It had branched out to be not only of local, but also of colonial importance. He hoped its effect might bo a good one ; that it would teach people who accepted self-government that there existed a vigilant, active, and unsleeping public opinion, which could not safely pass over any matter of public concern ; and that it was not a matter of indifference to any individual, be he rich or poor, small or great, in this or in any other part of our colonial community, whether a public institution was well or badly managed. If no other good resulted than this, he should consider that in bringing the subject forward he had rendered very good service. Our young nation had been too much engaged —far 100 exclusively engaged—in the sole pursuit of wealth—money-grubbing. But there was no escaping from organic laws. Social laws were organic laws. Every part of the social system co-relatcd with every other part ; every individual in the social system had relation to every other individual, and if wc broke an organic law we should be punished. He thanked the Commissioners for the great patience they had displayed towards him throughout this most tedious and unpleasant investigation.