THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1906. THE HABITUAL DRUNKARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13369, 26 December 1906, Page 6

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1906. THE HABITUAL DRUNKARD.

Another attempt is to be made, under the authority of the Habitual Drunkards Act of last session, to deal remedially with that form of inebriacy which is now universally recognised as a disease. When the Waitati Inebriates' Home was opened at the public cost some years ago beneficial results were very generally anticipated, but experience speedily proved that it was on the wrong lines. It had been hoped that those who felt themselves to be the victims of a distressing weakness would voluntarily submit themselves to the care of an institution designed for its treatment, and would remain there until dismissed as "cured." Unfortunately, they would not do so. Persons who under the influence of friendly advice and imploration agreed to do so very soon rebelled against the necessary discipline, and by their actions rendered the whole purpose of the institution futile and unavailing. Whether the management of Waitati was all that could have been wished is entirely beside the question, for under no management could the voluntary scheme have proved successful. It was extremely costly, and cost must be considered in all State action ; and it was practically worthless. The Government very properly decided to move along another line, and Parliament promptly passed the measure, to which effect is now to be given wherever fitting opportunity offers. The Act defines a " habitual chunkaid as a person who has been three times convicted for drunkenness within the nine months immediately preceding any .conviction for. drunkenness,"' and &u-

thorises the convicting magistrate to commit such a person for a period of not less than twelve months to any authorised institution " whose objects or part of whose objects are the care and reclamation of persons addicted to drink." The necessary regulations for control and employment in these authorised institutions must be confirmed by the authorities, and detained persons may be released at any time by order of the Governor, and there are stringent provisions for inspection and supervision. The. Government assumes no responsibility for • the cost of detention, which must be undertaken by the institution itself.

The advance made in the direction of coping with' habitual drunkenness is evidenced by the character of the Act. Instead of a costly and cumbrous State institution, in which officialism eats up a fortune annually, and all classes are inevitably thrown together, the road is opened for a variety of " homes" and institutions, I which may be variously maintained— ! by private payments, by charitable subscriptions, or by the labour of inmatesbut which are all under Departmental siitw'"--- And instead of the quickly proved absurdity of reserving full civic rights to confirmed inebriates while under remedial treatment and allowing them to break away under the irresistible pressure of a diseased appetite upon a weakened will, the new Act treats them- as unfit to be permitted unrestricted freedom and establishes over them an absolutely necessary control. The Under-Secretary for the Department of Justice is now discussing at Christ-church the making of such arrangements with the Samaritan Home of that city as may lead to its being the first institution in the colony to which habitual drunkards may be legally committed. The Salvation Army has a number of homes throughout the colony which arc eminently adapted for the reception of a certain class of cases, and the public spirit invariably shown by that organisation justifies the assumption that they will be speedily offered for this great work of social redemption and reformation. In addition to this, we may confidently anticipate the establishment of private institutions, adequately equipped and efficiently conducted, for drunkenness is not confined to any social grade as is, unhappily, too well known and understood. The Act renders this quite possible wherever individual conduct lias brought the victim of inebriacy within the "habitual drunkard" definition, and it is probable that if the present movement gives good results the definition may ultimately be extended to cover those even more lamentable cases which the ceaseless care of love and affection prevent from coming to the official notice of the magistracy.

! The method now to be applied to the treatment of the habitual drunkard has been somewhat long in coming, but if there has been loss through delay we have the inestimable gain of a united public opinion to support the working of the Act. A few years ago much antagonism might have been aroused by the proposal to detain in an institution those whose only offence was inability to keep away from intoxicating liquor, but the protestations of magistrates, of medical men, of humane gaolers, of indignant publicists, against the commitment of drunkards, time and time again, to herd with thieves and vagabonds, has done its work. Every civilised town has its typical drunkards, the greater part of whose lives are passed in gaol because they simply resume their habit the moment they are released from the imprisonment it leads to. And every civilised man and woman knows that mere imprisonment is no more curative of habitual drunkenness than it would be of rheumatism or consumption. Possibly there is no specific for habitual drunkenness. But while a specific may bo wanting, it is demonstrated that everything which assists in the restoration of the physical body to a normal tone, and in the rebuilding of the mental sanity and strength which is encouraged by the revival of faith and hope and self-respect, is a remedial agency. To throw a drunkard into gaol is to aggravate his degeneration, but to enclose him within reasonable restraints while surrounding him with elevating influences is, at any rate, to give him a chance to free himself from the chains of a habit which, often, none hate more than the unfortunate victim. We hope that the best results may follow the operations of the Habitual Drunkards Act. which should be j given the fullest opportunity to do good work, and should not be captiously criticised because minor difficulties may attend its institution.