INEBRIATES' HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12602, 17 June 1904, Page 5

INEBRIATES' HOME.

STATEMENT BY COLONEL PITT..

LEGISLATION NECESSARY. ■..•.•■•■:■-■•': ■ ■'.'-■■ • f

f_BT telegraph.—own correspondent.). Wellington, Thursday. In Wellington, on his return from his visit to, the Inebriates' Home, Colonel Pitt repeated the conviction expressed by him before he left Wellington;, that it would be •absolutely " necessary to introduce legislation in the coming session to put the home upon a better footing-. As to the details of this legislation, Colonel Pitt preferred; not to speak, us the Bill will have to come before Cabinet. It may be- regarded as certain, however, that the measure will extend the powers of the authorities of the home, so as to enable discipline to "be exercised more effectively than at present, and that provision will be made for the classification •of the patients. It was evident, the Minister stated, that something Would have to be done to institute a better system/ at the home. He had received reports from Dr. MacOregor, Dr. Trilby King, and Dr. Hay, and these reports were to "be brought .be/ore Cabinet, so that action might be taken at once. In his*visit to the home he had found that the women patients kept their rooms scrupulously clean, and not only cheerfully performed the light work required of them in the garden and elsewhere, but found useful occupation for their leisure hours. The men, on the other hand* appeared, with very few exceptions, to resent the routine piesaribed by the medical officers, and to be looking for excuses to make trouble. Some of them had expected to find the home a sort of select boardinghouse, where they would be able to enjoy luxurious living as well as light recreation. Apparently the majority ot the men appeared to think that no sacrifice ought to be required on their part to assist in the curative treatment. Though the institution had not been so successful as it might have been, he certainly did not think it had been altogether a failure, as Mr. Laurenson had implied. "It is, of course, quite an experiment," said Colonel Pitt, " and no doubt under proper conditions the institution would be of great 'oenefit."