MINISTER’S CHALLENGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1065, 1 September 1930, Page 16

MINISTER’S CHALLENGE

M.P.’S CHARGES REGARDING MENTAL HOSPITALS “ALLEGED OUTRAGE” Press Association WELLINGTON, Sunday. “In effect, Mr. Lysnar has accused medical officers of institutions under my control of an indictable offence. It is now incumbent upon him to give names and particulars, in order that an inquiry may be made and justice done to the victims of this alleged outrage,” said the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, when his attention was drawn to remarks reported to have been made by Mr. W. D. Lysnar, M.P., in the course of the debate on the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Bill. Mr. Lysnar is reported to have stated (1) that he knew of cases where husbands had been sent to mental hospitals by their wives for the purpose of obtaining a divorce; (2) that unless these persons had friends outside the institutions, they would probably remain there for 10 years; (3.) that one case had come under his notice recently of a woman who had been put into a mental hospital by her husband. Mr. Lysnar said he had interceded for her less than two years ago, and the result was that today she was in Wellington, with nothing the matter with her. The Minister said he had investigated these statements, and none of them appeared to have the slightest foundation in fact. Replying to them categorically he said: (1) “If Mr. Lysnar knew o£ any such case, it was surely incumbent upon him to make proper representations to the Minister in charge of the department, and to supply names and particulars, in order that an inquiry might be made and justice done to the victims of the alleged outrage. (2) “This statement, in effect, accuses the medical officers of the institutions referred to of an indictable offence, and it is a very serious matter indeed. The medical superintendent of a mental hospital is required, under our New Zealand Act, to certify to the mental condition of all patients admitted to his institution, and the making of a false statement in this respect is an indictable offence under section 125 of the Act. (3) “Mr. Lysnar has made no representations to me on behalf of any woman who has been discharged from any mental hospital since I have occupied the position of Minister of Health. I am further advised on inquiry by the Director-General of Mental Hospitals that no female patient has been discharged from any mental hospital in the Dominion during the past five years or so, in response to the intercession of Mr. Lysnar.” Mr. Stallworthy added that as the statements attributed to Mr. Lysnar were contrary to fact, and likely to have a damaging effect upon the reputation of the mental hospitals, he was bound to take the earliest opportunity of refuting them.