South Canterbury Times. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1879.

South Canterbury Times, Volume XV, Issue 2065, 5 November 1879, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1879.

The motion carried by the Legislative Council in favor of extending and improving Lunatic Asylums, and supplying these establishments with “ properly qualified medical practitioners,” reminds one of the providential habits which nature has implanted in the human, as well as the subordinate animal. The same wonderful instinct that induces rats, rabbits, and reptiles to make their nests comfortable, and causes the coral insect to fulfil the mission of his life by the construction of a beautiful circular tomb, seems to be animating the lofty branch of the Legislature. This agitation in the interests of Lunatic Asylums on the part of these members of Parliament has taken place undoubtedly at a most appropriate juncture, for just now a large proportion of those who have not yet tound their way to these refuges for weak intellects, are gravely discussing the question whether our law-makers are more rogues than fools, or a combination of both. Whatever may he the opinion, as to the expediency of squandering money on these lamentable institutions in Ctago, Canterbury and Auckland, there can be no doubt as to the necessity of providing increased accommodation for the seat of Government. We do not insinuate that it is only the intellectual froth of the community that drifts in the direction of the matchbox palaces of Wellington ; but it is a well-known fact that the head-centre of an extensive and cosily Civil Service, has a tendency to attract imbeciles, just as a brilliant light attracts the moths of a summer evening. Then, again, the finest of intellects is liable to break down under the continued strain of inordinate study, and knowing the hard work which members of Parliament have to perform, we are not surprised at their anxiety concerning establishments which, it is not without the range of probability, may be, to some of them, a future home.

It is much to be deplored that in a colony where the elements of physical and mental health exist in abundance, a strong necessity should exist for mixing up Lunatic Asylums with such burning questions as electoral reform, triennial parliaments, and the honorarium to members. We may be mistaken, but we confess we have a strong impression, that in connection with charitable institutions such as gaols, lunatic asylums, and hospitals, the axiom is being overlooked that “ Prevention is better than cure.” If some of the trouble that is taken, and the money expended in providing for the comfort and accommodation of the inmates, and the creation of wellpaid officers, was only devoted to the destruction of the well-known causes that encourage the growth of these refuges, the condition of the colony might be vastly improved. As long as charitable institutions are well fed and pampered, we may depend upon it, they will attract plenty of inmates. Some years ago, owing to a sudden outbreak of scarletina in Dunedin, a fever hospital was established on the Town Belt, and maintained at a large expense to the citizens ; but it is a remarkable historical fact that the epidemic was only stamped out when a few ratepayers, by resolute action, compelled the Corporation to remove their infectious establishment from a recreation reserve. We do not say that Lunatic Asylums are not necessary, but we do think they are being multiplied unnecessarily. It is much to be regretted if there are medical men on the lists of the unemployed, looking with longing eyes to a comfortable living out of kidnapped eccentrics. While we have no desire to stop their little game, we would suggest that that their skill might be better employed as analysts in detecting adulteration, and preventing the wholesale poisoning of the people. This is a direction in which the surplus medical talent that seems to be travelling about at present watching eagerly and coveteously the public purse, might be beneficially employed. Or an eligible situation might be created for at least a couple of them, by appointing a “ duly qualified medical superintendent” for each of our governing chambers. They could watch the progress of debate, and when members suffered from nervous excitement and prostration, they would be ready on a moment’s notice to apply sal volatile and other restoratives. It is a singular thing that the Lunatic Asylums of New Zealand have grown enormously since Dr Skae was induced to leave his practice in Edinburgh and take charge of these establishments in New Zealand. Either the colony is being deluged with lunatics since Dr Skae’s arrival, or his skilled presence has operated like a contagion, and attracted to the asylums inmates that would never, under ordinary circumstances, have thought of seeking shelter there. We trust the Legislature will consider the question seriously before finally committing the colony to the expense of legally qualified medical superintendents and costly edifices. Let them

contrast the expense of maintaining Lunatic Asylums in New Zealand with its small population, with the amount spent in similar institutions in the other colonies, and then consider the fact that, increasing the expenditure, imposing additional taxes on a heavily taxed people, and consequently diminishing human comfort and intensifying the struggle for existence, is likely to extend rather than suppress the evil. Work for the unemployed, protection for the honest and industrious, and fewer avenues for the successful prosecution of fraud is, we submit, of more importance just now, than duly qualified medical practioners for the benefit, or it may be torture, of human imbeciles.