LUNATIC ASYLUMS.

Patea Mail, 23 April 1881, Page 4

LUNATIC ASYLUMS.

Referring to (lie management of lunatic asylums ns disclosed by tbc enquiry at Wellington, tbc .Post says—Bad us the system undoubtedly is, its administration by Dr. Skae is still worse. The matter cannot possibly end here. Public feeling will not tolerate tbc continuance of so grievous tin abuse, or the retention in office of those who are responsible lor it. Painful as it is to say it. the truth must be told. Public confidence in Dr Skae has been not merely shaken but totally destroyed. He is regarded—and wo cannot say without justice—as morally no less culpable than llie subordinate who is undergoing proseciilion. Never again will anv reliance bo placed on his watchfulness over the safety, comfort, and well-being of those unfortunate and gricvouslyafflielod fellow creatures whom the law compels I heir relatives and friends to place tinder restraint. Their committal to a public lunatic asylum has been proved tantamount in many eases to their condemnation to punishments of revolting cruelly, indicted on them merely on account of the dreadful affliction which should have been their safeguard and passport to universal protection, kindness, and sympathy. And the Inspector, who holds in his hands the moral power to remedy this shameful wrong, calmly i: passes by on the oilier side.” If the Government do not take immediate and extreme steps to prevent any possible recurrence of a slate of things so disgraceful to us, as a Christian and civilised community, they will deserve to be hurled from office by (lie blast of popular execration.