NEW PRISON TREATMENT.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17707, 8 March 1923, Page 10

NEW PRISON TREATMENT.

[nou our own coreespohdest.) SrDNJiV. March 1

For some time past tne Minister for Justice (Mr L<?y)," an ardent and irrepressible reformer, has disolayed a keen interest in the "drunks" at the Central Police Court. On each occasion that he has visited the Court lie has been accompanied by a distinguished professor from the Sydney University, and on other occasions by well-known psychologists. The first reform that he introduced in this direct on was in taking from the Stipendiary Magistrates the duty of dealing with the drunk* and handing it over to the Chamber Magistrates. Now lis is having fitted out at the Central Court a_ special building for the special needs of the worshippers at the shrine of Bacchus, who have imbibed too freely. Although generally accepted that file building is to 'be used as something in the nature of a psychiatry clinic, where 'drunks'' will be medically treated. In any case they are likely to experience an interesting time if the t v fall into the hands of the police.

Spectators at the Nelson races on Saturday report an amusing incident during the height of the phenomenal rainstorm which marred the afternoon. Those in the grandstand were interested to observe a lady paddling round in the drenching rain, apparently in search of something. At last she spied what she was after, and, going up to the stewards' stand, hauled from under it, one after another, five youngsters, much as a cat drags its kittens from undesirablo places. Tucking a child under each arm, and with the other three tailing disconsolately on behind, the lady beat a hurried retreat to tho railway station. Ono wonders if she would not have done better to leave her offspring in the retreat which they had discovered.