HOKITIKA MENTAL HOSPITAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1921, Page 2

HOKITIKA MENTAL HOSPITAL.

REPLY TO CHARGES, By Telegraph —Press Association. Wellington, August 4. The Hon. C. J. Piarr, Minister in charge of Mental Hospitals, has made a statement based on the report by Dr. F. Hay, Inspector-General Mental Hospitals, concerning the conditions prevailing at Hokitika Mental Hospital, so severely criticised a few days ago by Bishop Julius. In the course of his statement the Minister says it is admitted that the buildings are old and out-of-date, and that there is no agricultural land attached to the institution, which is a thing generally aimed at by the Department. Tn the circumstances the department has been considering whether it should not close the West Coast institution and provide, for the patients at Christchurch Mental Hospital. This it has not been able to do, owing to negotiations for the purchase of more land falling through. The department had therefore considered making bettor arrangements at Hokitika. Such proposals are now in hand and he thought Bishop Julius could not have been aware of these facts when he gave the interview to the Press. Mr. Parr quotes the report of the official visitor to Hokitika. Hospital. This visitor states that he had always found evefything in the hospital spick and span, and the patients clean and well looked after. He spoke highly of the new superintendent, Dr. Buchanan.