HABITUAL DRUNKARDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13368, 24 December 1906, Page 7

HABITUAL DRUNKARDS.

THE TREATMENT OF SOCIAL DERELICTS. WHAT THE ACT DOES. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN" CORRESPONDENT.} Chbistcutjrch, Saturday. Mil. F. Waldegrave, Under-Secretary for Justice, is at present in Christckurch, his visit being partly connected with the coining iato operation of the Habitual Drunkards Act of last session. 'Speaking to a Times reporter, Mr. Waldegrave said the difficulty in connection with the treatment of social derelicts by the Salvation Army, the Samaritan Home, and the other institutions and organisations, was that there were no means of enforcing detention. The new Act overcame that difficulty. It empowered magistrates to commit habitual drunkards to any institution that was* willing to receive them, and make provision for their proper care and detention. The offenders might bo detained for any period not less than twelve months. There was authority for the Governor to allow any institution to receive and detain habitual drunkards, anfi those in charge of the home might make by-laws and the Governor gazette regulations in order that the Act might be effectively earned out. The- discipline would not be quit© as severe as hi a prison, but the offenders would be set to do suitable work. The present experiment would have nothing in common with the experiment made at the Waiti Inebriates' .Home. The failure of that institution was due to the hick of the compulsory clement. i'he authorities there had no power to compel the inmates to work, and very little power to enforce proper discipline. There was no intention of establishing a home by the Government. The desire was to utilise existing machinery, and any institution which had for its object the care and curative treatment of inebriates, might be gazetted under the Act. The. Department hoped that institutions would apply to be gazetted. It was intended to appoint inspectors. These officers would have no voice in the management, but they would be expected to report to the Minister in regard to improveincuts or amendments that might, be considered necessary. Mr. Waldegrave is very enthusiastic in regard to the scheme, and believes that it will at any rate help to keep the unfortunate victim of drink off the streets, and may have very wide-reach-ing effects.