THE WRITTEN QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 116, 6 November 1911, Page 4

THE WRITTEN QUESTION.

ABOUT AX INSANE PATIENT. ■ 'i Auckland, November i. : A rather startling question was putto Sir John Findlay at Newmarket last night. This w.as in the form of a written query as to whether tho Minister knew that a man hat}, for some considerable timo past, been detained in the Auckland Mental Hospital without justification, and simply to suit persons who had a reason for wishing his continued detention. Sir John Findlay expressed his surprise at the nature of the question, and said that if the person asking it would see him after the meeting closed and give Mm full particulars, lie would have instant enquiries made. When seen this morning, the Minister said that his invitation to divulge further particulars had not been availed of, and he had heard nothing further of thematter.

Dr. Beattie, superintendent of the Auckland Mental Hospital, when interviewed by a reporter this morning, said that the statement made at last night's meeting by one of the audience was absurd. It was open to anyone in Auckland to take a medical man into the institution, and examine the condition of the patient there. The doctor added that, although Sir John Findlay's invitation for the divulgence of further information had not been accepted, he nevertheless felt sure that he knew the identity of the person responsible for the statement made, and that he also knew tho particular n\se referred to. This was one in which a discharged patient had gone round to various people in authority declaring tlv.'.t a patient whom he had met while in the institution waß quite sane. It had even made the subject of a petition to Parliament, but investigation of the cn.*p had borne out. the. contention that, while the patient in question had periods of safety, it would really be dangerous to discharge the man from the institution.