REFORMATIVE LEGISLATION.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13231, 26 September 1908, Page 9

REFORMATIVE LEGISLATION.

LOCAL VIEWS ON THE GOVERNMENT MEASURE.

Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., who holds strong views in regard to tho reforming of criminals, gave to a "Press' representative last evening his impressions in regard to tho reformative legis--I—.-tion —-hich is hoi—s promotod hy the Government. He said tbat the provisions outlined in tho Bill -would help j the courts considerably. Mr. V. G. Day, S.M., and he himself, had advocated for a long time past that the power of granting probation, if the drurfeard showed signs of reforming, should bo given to magistrates. Tho intention of tho Court, when it committed a man to a Home, was not so much to punish him as to give him a chanco to free himself from the slavery j of diink and become a decent and re- \ specta-U member f society. It iiiistht help many a man if he was" released on picbititn on terms so stringent that ho must either pull himself together or return to the institution immediately. Since the Habitual Drunkards Act camo into force, he had received from men, committed as habitual drunkards, men he had known many years, and men he knew would make a real effort to reclaim themselves, letters applying for release. He had no power in the matter and had to direct them to apply to tho Governor. If this Act was passed, the magistrate would lie able to consider each application on its merits and deal with applicants who showed an inclination to reform. He had advocated over and over again the extending of tbe definition of an habitual drunkard to persons jfloro than once convicted of breaches of prohibition orders. These were the very worst, and most difficult class of drunkards they had to deal with, and not those who qualified as habitual drunkards within the moaning of tlio Act. The men and women who camo before the Court and who hod been prohibited for four and five yeaTS in succession and yet consistently broke their prohibition orders required special and exceptional treatmenttreatment of a reformative character. If they coidd bo placed i.i on institution where they would- be allowed out on probation and on condition that they behaved themselves and lived decent lives, it would tend to mako them again become respectable people. If the new Act was passed, ho could deal with offenders at ono© and send them for a course of treatment ot an institution suitable for tho purpose.' "It will be necessary*" continued Mr Bishop, "having regard to the possible extension of the operation of this Act, to provide suitable places *for women as well as for men, such as is provided in Auckland by the Solvation Army authorities. lam a. great believer in liard work, and no detention or treatment can bo effective unless accompanied by specially suitable work, which, without in any way being of.a degrading or even punitive nature, gives the necessary occupation of mind and body. That cannot bo dono unless in a special institution.. The only place in Christchurch is the Samaritan Home. Tlris Homo is doing excellent work, but it is unsuitable" for habitual' i drunkards." ! For many year® past,'in and out of season, Mr Bishop bad, -he said, advocated that there should be provided somo machinery by which: Magistrates could order the detention of certain classes of women, in suitable institu-s tiens, so as to do away with the necessity of -ending them to gaol, that being tho only way" Ma which tbey can bo dealt with at tho present time. Theso women required certain special treatment—to bo committed to a homo such as was contemplated by -this new legislation, and personally ho thought it was a very advanced stop in the direction of dealing with persons. In conclusion, he'said that all thoso who had been closely connected with rescue, work or reformatory work which had brought them into touch with tho lower phases of society. : would welcome this measure as being one of tho best and most -valuable helps; that possibly could bo afforded thorn.

Mr T. 1. Smaill, lay evangelist, has had long experience with the class of people to-whom the Act, if passed, will apply. Mr 1 Smaill said he had not seen the Act, and was" only ■speaking from the report telegraphed'by-our correspondent. Tho probation'" clause in the new Act was much needed j: for in, the darkest hour it held out hope to the habitual.drunkard which would induce him to make every effort to reform, so that he could take advantage of the clause: The power of releasing a person on probation' was to be given to the"Magistrates in tho new Bill,-and this was tfi supersede the petitioning of the Minister under, the old Act. v: "The idea of bringing under the Act a person who has committed a crime that would not be expected of him when sober is an admirable one," said Mr Smaill. "The power that is given to magistrates to remove . habitual drunkards from one institution to any other, or to a hospital, is one of the very best. We have had experience ill such cases in the Samaritan ■ Homo, when young men have had to.be committed there, as it is the only institution gazetted under the Act. The Home is one of the best institutions for women and old men, but it is.unsuitable for young men, and this amendment will* give the magistrates power to remove them to Bell Island." . In connection with the clause for dealing with fallen women: and girte, Mr Smaill said there was one specially good feature in the Act, in that the magistrate had power to • detain them in an institution for a longer term than he would think of giving them in gaol. The Act thus again contained hope; for, if it could be shown to the authorities that there was a chanoo, ( of an Offender turning from her evil ways, they had power to release her. In dealing with women and girls of this, class, there waa a certain chance for them in the early stages, and anything that f would cause thero to remain in the Home for an extended period must acceptable. ;'■'.'.- . j "I am glad to think the powers of the ma."-istrates h«ve been m materially increased," said Mr Smaill, in conclusion, "and from my point of view it would be well if they had power to impose an indeterminate sentence, especially in the case of habitual offenders drawn from the vagrant class."