AN INEBRIATES HOME.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12972, 27 November 1907, Page 8

AN INEBRIATES HOME.

!A SALVATION ARMY EXPt«I.MbM. (special to "the press. AUCKLAND, November 2"». The Salvation Army have «*ublish«l a reformatory for inebriates at Ik'll's lelnnd in the Hauraki Gulf, which will be opened for the reception of inrnat<>s under tho Habitual Drunkards Act as soon ac tho necessary authorisation has been received from tho Government. A more picturesque spot could scarcely have l/ecn selected. On either side of the island thore are beautilul sandy ho;ieh.-3 stwn with .■H-α shells and flanked by jagged roots, over which the wavofi boat furiously in time of atorni Oentlo hlopes of green by tho coast rac to hill cones in the centre of th* , island. Only a tow yards above the surf line stands the accommodation house, erected by Mr Tioll and now to l>econie part of the reformatory. It would be difficult to imagine, an if,],and with buildings more suit**) to tin? Army's ptirpos ,, . Mr JJell is one ot tlww mechanically incline! men who iK.«'k to make appliance* and nil fitting as convenient and labour Ravmg :i« poseiblc, and in this roep«*t the a-ro models. The building nearest tin? j bench is a long, one-storey bunyalow, , plainly but well constructed, with every room fitted in convenient manner Thore are no dust catching and oven tho junction oi iloors and walls ere provided with rounded Ix-ading to prevent tho lodging of du.st. \\ utor tap* are in each room, and tho rooms aro well lighted, whilo a broud verandah faces tho water front. With a few small internal alterations this building will bo admirably suited for tho reformatory, and will accommodate fifty lnmatee. Tho water supply iv provided by a serit* of connected tanks. To the right again arc two other buildings, one- of which will be utilised : i for the. etaf! quartern and tfm othor ' for the "retreat" or homo tor voluntary paying patientn. Neat paths connect the various buildings. A Crookes gas supply for both lighting and cooking IB provided. There is v Iwilerhouso with engine, and sawe for firewood cutting, a completely fitted engineer's shop with oil engines for running turning lathes, olectrio dynamo, etc., and from the dynamo various fiarte of the building and the top of lie square look-out tower abovo the building, that is to bo tho staff quarters, are supplied with electric light, and there aro also electric heating appliances'for ironing, etc. Tho Salvation, Army has secured a threo years' leaeo of the island, with the option of purchase at any period during that time, and has just taken tbo place over. Inebriates committed . there by tho Magistrate will bo lodged in the "reformatory" section, and first of all in the big dormitory. As the character of the man shows itself, so will have to be shaped his treatment. The inebriates are really "patients," not cri- | minals, and the home is a hospital, ■' not a gaol. Men w)h> cannot resist tho craving for intoxicants will bo shown ■how to resist. Thoir bodily strength will bo built up through healthy and . bright surroundings, systematic and clean living, work and recreation in tho open air, courses of invigorating ■ea bathing and proper diet. Their ; characters will be dealt with in just the same strengthening way. Their . weak moral fibre will be tended to , moke it strong, and in this way the :. Army hopes to make real men out of . tho material that comes ite way. Then •'. there are many oases of men who know ■ their own failing, and are not too far gone to want to conquer it. Just as ;,' they can apply for a prohibition order againet themselves, so they can apply -for commitment to tbe inebriates' • homo for 12 months, and there are . cases of men in good positions, never ; : convicted for drunkenness, but still / wasting their su'bstanoo and ruining ■ their bodies through excessive drink- . ing, and it will be possible for these also to go to the island, and by payaig accordingly they will be provided for in a eeparato institution and un- ;' dergo the same careful skilled treat* ' ' ment. ■•■■' a V lO " w ' fttere * n tne vicinity teem with neh, and so there will be sport for those who desire it, with the double advantage of providing tho home with an nrticlo of , diet. In the centre of the island there is a sheltered valley, and this will bo entirely'devoted to poultry farming. Food production again, and the experience gained thereby, may ehovr many a young man the road to ; profitable industry. There will be gardening on an extensive scale, and no ' laok of opportunity to learn various occupations. Recreation will be a daily feature. A library will be provided, V : - and there will be classes for -anyone wishing to learn. At present SO men can be provided .'.■• for in the main building, and from six .to ten in tho "Rotreat," ample accommodation for the initial stages of tho experiment. It is the first home the Army has been aßlo to establish in • the world to which there is direct power of committal by tho Bench. Should auccees crown the efforts, then other similar institutions will be erected in other par to of New Zealand by tho Array, and tho result will be duly made known to the Parliaments of different countries.