INEBRIATES HOMES.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11562, 20 April 1903, Page 6

INEBRIATES HOMES.

TREATMENT OF HABITUAL DRUNKARDS. On tho 16th ult. Mr H. G. Ell, M.H.R., wrote to tho Right Hon. tho Premier en the subject of the treatment- of habitual drunkards in Inebriates' homes. Mr Ell stated that he had been unable to get any satisfaction from either the Minister of Education or the Minister of Justice with regard to the promise given that provision would be made for the depraved class of inebriates who spend their time between the police court and gaol. He assorted that the Act of 1898 was passed in ithe interests of this class, and, despite the complaints of the people's representatives, and the fact that- magic t-rates and policed officers have urged that- something should be done, the Ac. iv mains a dead letter so far as this particular <\;i's |_ concerned. These ofieiic'.ers, Mr VM wrote, ""are sent from our courts to gaol to get sober, for the tern does r.o more, they return to our street.*, get- iDto a beastly state of drurkennees, and ,-ire again sent to gaol, to return again and again, until scores of offences are registered against them. We have between "_0 and 40 of these drunkards in the Christchurch district, two-thirds of them being women." He contended that, provision should be made ior this class of offenders in the neighbourhood of the four centres, and asked that the matter should bo brought under the notice of Cabinet. The Premier, in his reply, dated April 9th, writes that the matter has been brought under tho notice of Cabinet, but it is on« that involves a very largo expenditure. "I presume," Mr Seddon adds, "that by carrying prohibition one of the' ends in view waa to prevent people, being able to get alcohol, and the unfortunate state of things depicted will not continue to such a large extent."