Mr. Speaker ... Session Queries and Asides

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1070, 6 September 1930, Page 16

Mr. Speaker ... Session Queries and Asides

THE SUX'S Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Friday.

Parliament concluded a dull week today by arguing all the time about estimates. During tbe day, eight claeses of estimates were put through, and the most interesting discussion occurred on the mental hospitals and health figures for the j-ear. Members asked varying questions, and received varying answers.

The following estimates were put through: Native Department, Cook Islands Department, Native Land Settlement, Native Trust, Government Life, State Fire, Government Accident and Mental Hospitals. The total amount passed was £TS",TS2.

Good progress is being made with rhe new Auckland mental hospital at Kingseat, about 12 miles from Papakura. according _to replies given by the Minister in charge of mental hospitals, the Hon. A. .T. Stallworthy, to various questions, when the mental hospitals estimates were under discussion. Tenders for the erection of two new villas had been accepted, be said, and plans were being prepared for two more. He could not say definitely when the Avondale Hospital would be closed, but the transfer of patients would be made as soon as there was sufficient accommodation at Kingseat. The doctor's residence at Avondale might be used as a residential clinic, he said.

I-ligh tribute was paid to the Mental Hospitals Department by Mr. E. ,J. Howard (Labour Christchurch South) in connection with its work in the development of the Templeton farm colony in Christchurch for children. He urged that the colony be enlarged, and that children up to the age of 16 be provided for. It was pitiful at present at Sunnyside mental hospital to see girls kept with the women patients, whose language and behaviour were not a good influence. Mr. Howard quoted the example of a girl of 13. daughter of an epileptic father, who could not be kept at home after being associated with some of i he women patients at Sunnyside. Her language was not good.

More variety in the menu at the Hokitika mental hospital was sought by Mr. J. O'Brien (Labour—Westland) during the mental hospitals estimates discussion. He said that the patients had porirdge and bread and butter only for breakfast, and tea and bread and butter or jam or cheese for tea. To have porridge and bread and butter for seven days a week, 32 weeks in the year, would be sufficient to send songe of the members of the House to an institution, he thought.

In view of the fact that many of the patients had to do hard work, Mr. O'Brien thought there should be some variety. Mr. W. Nasn (Labour— Hutt) supported Mr. O'Brien, but wanted to know why it cost £122 a year for each patient at Hokitika on such a diet and yet at other larger institutions, presumably where the menu was better, it cost only £55. The Minister, answering Mr. Nash, said the size of the institution determined the cost of each patient. Regarding the menu at Hokitika, Mr. Stallworthy said hr had visited that and every other institution and personally had received no complaints about the variety of the food.

Answering a question from Mr. J. A. Nash (Reform —Palmerston) as to whether the grants for the St. John Ambulance Association would be restored, the Minister of Health said that provision for the grants was made in the supplementary, estimates of the Department.

The question of the establishment of a separate hospital for the North Shore was raised this afternoon by Mr. A. Harris (Reform —Waitemata), during the discussion on the Health Department estimates. He desired to know the Government policy regarding the establishment of new hospitals, and said that at North Shore there were -upward of 25.000 people, and in cases of accident or infectious disease it was not always advisable or convenient to carry patients across the harbour to Auckland. He hoped that the Minister would take into consideration tbe establishment of a new hospital for the district. The Minister of Health, the lion. A. J. Stallworthy, said that the question was one for the Auckland Hospital Board, but, should the board make representations to the Department, the suggestion of the member would receive sympathetic consideration.

Though he is not in the superannuation fund, the services of Dr. T. H. A. Valintine, late Director-General of Health, have been recognised by the State. Replying to a question in the House this afternoon, the Minister of Health, the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, stated that although Dr. Valintine was not a member of the fund, it had been felt that his 34 years in the service of the State should he recognised and therefore be had been given six months’ leave and had been appointed advisory officer to the Health Department at a salaiT of £SOO a year.