REFORM OF INEBRIATES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13226, 11 July 1906, Page 4

REFORM OF INEBRIATES.

The opinion of Adjutant Gordon, of the Salvation Army, as to the proper treatment for the habitual drunkards who form such a. lamentable proportion of our Police Court cases is both wise and practical. As will be seen by reference to a special interview, which appears in another column of the New Zealand Heealb of to-day, Adjutant Gordon, speaking of habitual female-drunkards. says: " I think permanent good would be done by putting them on a vegetable or poultry farm far away from town influences. Let them have plenty to do. They could do a great deal in a market garden or on a poultry farm ; not hard work by any means, but enough to keep them employed and to keep their minds occupied." This is practical common sense, and applies to both sexes. To imprison wretched men and women, habitual drunkards, in Mount Eden Gaol, under utterly depressing surroundings, can only aggravate and confirm the disease from which they suffer. They ought to be kept sufficiently employed in the open air and under inspiriting surroundings, that we. all' know. The State Inebriate Asylum from which so "much was hoped does not seem to have been a very remarkable success, but this does not- affect the soundness of the "' home " treatment. The Salvation Army people have a happy talent for succeeding along certain social lines where others generally fail, and if they make an attempt to deal with the habitual drunkards they ought to have public sympathy and reasonable encouragement from the State. If- habitual drunkardiS could be committed to a; suitably-conducted farmcolony instead of to .Mount Eden Gaol it would be very much better for thei#, arid the Government ought to pay for their maintenance. If only a few were reformed the colony would be "financially the gainer, not to mention higher considerations.