PORIRUA MENTAL HOSPITAL.

Shannon News, 7 August 1928, Page 4

PORIRUA MENTAL HOSPITAL.

PATIENTS ON PAROLE. SUGGESTIONS OF DISCONTENT. INQUIRIES TO BE MADE. References to the Porirua Mental Hospital made by Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki) in the House of Representatives yesterday, suggested the existence of concern on the part of residents at the type of patient granted parole, and that all was not well among the staff of the institution. The Minister "of Health, in reply, intimated that inquiries would be made into the matters raised. -

Mr. Field said that he had been informed that the authorities of Porirua were anxious to give suitable patients the utmost possible freedom, and a, number of patients, he had been told, were allowed on parole, outside the" institution. "This has given rise to very considerable unrest among the people of the district," he said. "Through the presence of the institution, Porirua has not been regarded as a very desirable residential locality, and the value of land has been affected. We do not want to do anything that will add to that position, but it has been suggested to me that the number of patients on parole is having that effect. That would .perhaps not matter so much if the residents, particularly the women, were not in a state of anxiety of mind through these people being at large. I know there are a number of harmless patients wh.o are trusted, but it has been reported that there are men, unguarded, who were iommittcd there for homicidal and sexual offences.' The reports may' be exaggerated) but still there is a strong feeling in the district that some danger might develop, particularly with respect to women and children, if patients liable to break out in mischief, are allowed to roam about the roads. I understand from the medical superintendent that the residents are unnecessarily in alarm, as there is nothing to fear. However, the complaints have been made, and I considered it my duty to mention them to the Minister." Inside the Hospital. Mr.-Field also said that he had been sorry to hear that there Avas disaffection inside the institution as well. Happily for many years peace and contentment had reigned within the institution until the last few months, when complaints had reached him. Those complaints did not relate to the wages or the conditions of the staff. They were matters he did not propose to deal with in the House at that juncture, although facts had been brought to his notiee which certainly required the attention of the heads of the Department and the Minister. "Of course, I realise there are always two sides," added -Mr. Field, '' and I am not making any charge against the authorities, beyond stating that there is grave concern among the staff of the institution. I can assure the Minister that no member of the hospital staff has committed a breach of the confidence reposed in him. It is very necessary for the the Minister to make his own inquiries not only from the heads, but the subordinates as well, with a view to setting at rest any unrest or disaffection that may exist. I ask the Minister to see that a thorough investigation is We want to see a contented staff, but I am afraid we have not got that in Porirua 1 at the present time." Minister's Reply. Replying, the Minister of Health (Hon. J. A. Young) said he was assured that no harmful patients were on parole outside the hospital grounds. Those permitted outside were not regarded as harmful in any way.- Mr. Field had referred to a homicidal case. The Minister said that he had in mind one particular case where a father who killed] his son while in a state of insanity was now perfectly sane and quite fit to resume work. That was the difficulty. In the opinion of the authorities he was perfectly harmless and might be considered for Telease, but in view of the gravity of the crime that, of course, could not be granted. He understood that the medical superintendent had met the residents of the district, but had received nO complaints regarding patients on parole. Mr. Field, however, had informed him that, as far as he knew the position, the medical superintend ent had delivered an address, but no discussion had followed it. He promised to have the matter fully inquired into; : :

The Minister also said that the Department courted the uttermost publicity in all its doings. He would make inquiry into the complaint regarding discontent at Porirua. He understood that the institution had been rather weak in regard to superior officers ?6n the administrative side, and for some time a certain amount of drift an-.l dlackness had set in. Under the new regime it was necessary that there should be some straightening up, but there had been no actual strife. There had been some friction, but it was not serious. "We must have efficiency," added the Minister. "I want the utmost confidence between the staff, the institution, and myself. If there, is anything in the nature of an injustice to anyone I will have it looked into with a view to having it remedied."