Conference On Alcoholism

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30348, 25 January 1964, Page 16

Conference On Alcoholism

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 24.

A conference on the problem of alcoholism and the treatment of alcoholics will be called by. the Minister of Justice (Mr Hanan) towards the end of February.

Me Hanan said today he felt the conference would be able to bring forward a number of useful recommendations which could be of considerable help in the preparation of legislation designed to provide more effective measures for dealing with alcoholics. He said the present legal provisions relating to the care of alcoholics were considered inadequate by many people. “However, opinions differ on what is the right method of dealing with the problem,” he said. This was clearly indicated at the school on alcohol studies convened by the ■ National Society on Alcoholism at Massey University last May. Although a draft bill had been prepared on his instructions last year, Mr Hanan

said he did not think it should be proceeded with until all those concerned had had an opportunity of discussing, in detail, the specific changes it envisaged, and, if possible, of reaching some measure of agreement on them. Mr Hanan said he had asked Mr L. G. H. Sinclair, S.M., who was closely associated with the formulation of the proposals embodied in last year’s bill, to be chairman of the conference, which will be held in Wellington. Invitations would be issued to a number of people, including all the members of the co-ordinaiting committee on alcoholism set up in 1956 after a conference called by the then Minister of Justice.

This committee, which was chaired by Dr. S. W. P. Mirams, newly-appointed director of the Mental Health Division, consisted of representatives of the various bodies which were actively interested in work among alcoholics. They would all be able to contribute a great deal to the discussions from their practical experience of the problems to be overcome, Mr Hanan said. Earlier this month, the territorial commander for the Salvation Army (Commissioner A. J. Gilliard) said that alcoholism was increasing in New Zealand.

Commenting on the fourth annual report of “The Bridge,” the Salvation Army’s clinic for alcoholics, the commissioner said the age when men and women became alcoholics seemed to be lowering. Data gathered from the first 100 case histories showed the average age of men admitted to be 43. A total of 417 men had been admitted to “The Bridge” since it was opened in August, 1959.