FOR REFORMATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 311, 25 September 1908, Page 7

FOR REFORMATION.

' ' "HABITUAL DRUNKARDS. INSTITUTIONS FOR FALLEN WOMEN. PROPOSED LEGISLATION. • • The Government intends to ask Parliament to make.important additions to the lav," relating to habitual drunkards ancl institutions for fallen women. With this view the Attorney-General (Hon. Dr. Findlay) will move to place seventeen new clauses, .at the end of the Police Offences Amendment Bill, when that measure is before the Council" in committee. ' ' VICTIMS OF DRINK. The definition, of "habitual drunkard" in the principal Act is extended to include a person twice convicted of breach of a prohibition order. Justices of the Peace are not to have jurisdiction..to deal with habitual drunkards. The duration of an order for detention, is not to exceed three years. Evory person other than a registered medical practitioner who) without the written authority of a magistrate or registered medical practitioner, procures, attempts to procure, or- delivers any intoxicating liquor for a person detained in an institution for habitual drunkards is'liable to a fine not exceeding £20; •...., ... On-reccipt of a. written, application'from a person detained in such an institution, a magistrate.' may order his release on probation, subject to such conditions as the magistrate thinks fit. On any breach of such conditions the magistrate may cancel the'order, and send.him back to the institu-tion-or any similar, institution to complete his term. When any person, has been_ convicted of any offence punishable by imprisonment, and the judge or magistrate is satisfied that the offence was ; committed under tlie influence of drink, and .that tho .offender has.beeii thrice convicted of drunkenness within the preceding nine months, or is the subject of a prohibition order, and has .bpen ; twicQ convicted of a breach thereof, the judge or magistrate may, in addition to or in' lieu' of imprisonment, order the offender to be de- . tained in an. institution for habitual drun- . kards.. _ . _ ■ ' A magistrate is to be given power to remove an- habitual drunkard from, one institution to another, or to a hospital.

A judge or magistrate may issue a warrant for the arrest of a person against whom an order for detention as an habitual-drunkard has been made. A NEW DEPARTURE. -.Sections 15 to 16 constitute a new departure in the legislation of tho Dominion, and will be, if passed,-equivalent to a: new Act giving to certain institutions conducted by tho Salvation Army and other agencies a status, which they liavo not bofore had. This part of the Bill will also, like tho foregoing, give considerably increased powers to tho magistrates in dealing for reformative purposes with the classes of offenders who are concerned. >Thb ''term " institution for fallen women" is "defined as " any institution established for the care and reclamation of such women and for the timo. being authorised and appointed by the Governor bjr Ordcr-in-Council as an institution for the reception and detention of fallen women under the authority of this Act." _ Women or girls convicted of certain offences may be committed, either in addition to or in lisra of othor' peualtyj tp ail institution under the Act, if the governing authority of'the institution Will ■ receive, them. The period of detention must be specified in the order, and must not be more than twice the maximum period of imprisonment for, , the offence of which the woman has been'-convicted. i'The .Governor: may at. any, time direct the discharge of,-any person so detailed. Escapees may bo' treated as persons who have escaped from lawful custody. In case of illness, _ a woman or girl may be removed' from the institution "to a _ hospital on tho order of a magistrate or-justice. -. A magistrate or justice may issue a warrant for the. arrest of a woman against whom 'an' order 'for'-'detention, has been made. Subject to the consent of the Minister for Justice, .the governing authority of an institution. may make by-laws dealing with the .mode,of employment and hours of labour of tho inmates and other matters. . s : The Governor, may' make regulations for the inspection and' visitation of tho institutions, the good, conduct and discipline of their inmates, tho punishments that may be 'inflicted oh" them by the governing authorities, and generally for the efficient carrying out- of tho provisions of this part of the Act.