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RECEIVING HOUSE
REQUIRED.
MAYOR’S STRONG PLEA.
"BARBAROUS AND INHUMAN
METHODS."
The following fervid passage occurred
in the report presented by Mayor M’Neii
at yesterday’s meeting of the Town Coun
cil:—"The need of a receiving house in
this district for the. treatment and classi
fication of what are known as ‘border
line’ cases of mental trouble has often
.been felt _ and admitted by ’ all.
Yet year after year passes, and
nothing is done. Last week an
other case came directly under
my notice, and I feel so disgusted that
the present barbarous and inhuman
methods are allowed to continue that
1 -must take this opportunity of suggest
ing that the council requests the au
thorities to take immediate action to
bring- about the much desired reform.
I understand that large suras of money;
have been expended in Melbourne in es
tablishing snch a place. If this be so
I want to know how it is that populous
country centres are neglected. Is it to
he a case of everything for Melbourne,
no matter at wliat cost or at wliat pain
to the country cities and towns? As
long as Ballarat and. other country
cities are denied a receiving house this
State of ours "nil he considered detest
able, heartless, and stupid in its adminis
tration, too dull or slow or callous to
adopt the humane and dreent methods
of civilißed countries. ’
Cr Pittard said the council must thank
the mayor for bringing forward iu such
an expressive and forcible way the scan
dalous state of affairs existing in this
connection. Recently a’lady belonging
to a respectable family was caused to
he sent to gaol because she suffered from
-a slight mental ailment. She thus be
came associated to some extent witn
criminals. This was very painful to
the people connected with the woman,
who had simply lost her mental balance
for the time being. The Stale Govern
ment were spending thousands of pounds,
according to the estimates, in regard to
institutions of this character situated
around Melbourne, but it seemed tc be
very difficult to get anything of the kind
here. Tsey made provision for people
who happened to he sick in body but no
provision for those who happened to ho
sick in mind. It was about time they
made a determined effort to get the mat
ter remedied. He moved that a ropy
of the clause he sent to the municipali
ties of the district, and the various F»r :
'daman tary representatives, together, with
a letter pointing out the horrible condi
tion of affairs existing.
Cr Pearce said there was plenty of
room for reform willi regard to this mat
ter. People were often sent to Ararat
on the strength of a doctor’s report with
out a chance of undergoing an examina
tion to ascertain whether they would
get better or not. He seconded the
motion.
' The mayor said he was glad the clause
commended itself to councillors. To
brand these unfortunate people as
criminals was an outrageous tiling in
decent society.
Cr Pittard’s motion was carried.
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