PART XII.

Authorised Institutions.

155. —There shall be kept in respect of an authorised institution—

(a) a register in the prescribed form in which the prescribed particulars, in regard to every person of unsound mind taken care of in the institution shall be entered, and

(b) such other records as may be prescribed.

156. —(1) Where the Minister is satisfied—

(a) that the person in charge of an authorised institution is not fit for that position, or

(b) that the persons of unsound mind taken care of in the institution are not under the observation of a registered medical practitioner approved of by the Minister, or

(c) that the food given to such persons is unsuitable or inadequate, or

(d) that the number of such persons is too great having regard to the size of the premises of the institution, or

(e) that the premises of the institution require repair,

the Minister may by order require the person carrying on the institution to do all such things and take all such steps as the Minister considers proper in the circumstances.

(2) Where in relation to any authorised institution there is a contravention by act or omission of any order under this section applicable to such institution, the person carrying on the institution shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds, together with, where the offence is a continuing offence, a further fine not exceeding one pound for every day on which the offence is continued.

157. —(1) The Minister may by order require that any authorised institution in relation to which there has been a conviction of an offence under the next preceding section shall not be used after a specified date for the care, maintenance or treatment of persons of unsound mind and, if it is so used after that date, the person carrying on the institution shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds, together with, where the offence is a continuing offence, a further fine not exceeding five pounds for each day on which the offence is continued.

(2) The Minister may by order revoke an order made under sub-section (1) of this section.

(3) Where an order is made under sub-section (1) of this section, the powers conferred by this Act on the Minister and on the Inspector of Mental Hospitals in relation to the authorised institution to which the order relates and the provisions of this Act in relation to the discharge, removal, and transfer of the patients in such institution shall continue in force for a period of three months after the date specified in the order as the date as on and from which such institution shall not be used for the taking care of patients and it shall be lawful to carry on such institution during that period for the purpose of effecting such discharge, removal and transfer.