Treatment of Drunkards.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 63, 5 November 1887, Page 2

Treatment of Drunkards.

A VALUABLE SUGGESTION; On many occasions we have Seen here in die, borne a painful state of thinga brought to* light on the application ot a wife or coma other relative to prohibit the eale ot intoxi. eating liquprs tp men who wasted their ea. tats and ruined their health in otar fndal.' genoa in drink. It has been shown to the Court, and the sad truths have been dragged before the eyas of the public, how husband, neglected wife, family, home and eelf re. epact in drinking every «ix-penoe he dfewi The Legislature a couple.of years. ago a measure whereby relatives could obtain an order prohibiting publicans from supplying liquor to these men, but how many times have we found these orders violated 1 How many times have we seen the prohibited skulking round awaiting a faVortble oppof. tunity to obtain that which has been dented them? Then again Is the painful fact that children are employed ae agents to subvert the law, and by those means the Act ta prae. tically useless as far as concerns prohibition orders. The question has often occurred to the Magistrates throughout the Colony how the evil can be counteracted, and the suggu, tion made by Mr Ollivier, Resident Malta: trate for Ashburton, the other day that drunkards should be sent to soma institution for treatment is worthy of the consideration of the Legislature. The case which brought forth the auggestion was a very aad one, but one that has had its equal in Gisborne. The defendant was a well-known resident, and it was shown by the evidence of a number ot witnesses that he was wasting his means and injuring his health through drink, and it was also shown that when he kept sober he was one ot the best business men in town that he was the father of a bright, intelligent family of children, and could succeed in any business were he to keep away from strong drink. It was proved that notwith. standing previoua prohibition orders tho unfortunate fellow could always obtain drink whenever the insane thirst for alcoholic stimulants overtook him, and that ho and his family were being ruined in consequence. Mr Ollivier observed that the case was a most painful one, and said that in tho glorious and good old Provincial days the north ward at Funnyside was specially set aside for the reception of dipsomaniacs, and he knew cf his own knowledge that the plan then in vogue worked with very beneficial results in numbers of cases in which persons had been suffering lunacy from drink. Mr Olllvier'S remarks will be fully borne opt by all who have seen the evil effects of drink, and few have not. In every town there should bo suitable accommodation provided where drunkards could be sent for treatment, and if such were done there could be no denying that many a man, who in his sober senses, would make a desirable citizen, would be saved from ruin.