11 FEBRUARY 1922, Page 3

Dr. Montagu Lomax has refused to give evidence before the

departmental committee appointed to inquire into the charges which he made in his book, The Experiences of an Asylum Doctor. Re declares that the Minister of Health has prejudged the issue, that the members of the committee are biased in favour of the present system, and that the asylum attendants have declined to appear at the inquiry. He demands * Royal Commission, to take evidence on oath and to report on the whole question of lunacy treatment. The National Council for Lunacy Reform supports Dr. Lomax. We fear, however, that his refusal to appear before the committee will be. construed by the public as implying that he cannot substantiate his charges against the administrators of the asylums. Sir Alfred Mond, writing in last Saturday's Times, warmly protested against Dr. Lomax's attitude, and asserted not unreasonably that the appointment of a departmental committee was by far the quickest method of discovering the truth.