TREATMENT OF WASTRELS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11866, 27 February 1913, Page 4

TREATMENT OF WASTRELS.

PROPOSED STATE COLONY. COMPULSORY WORK. . (Per Press Association.) Christ-church," February 26. Tlie problem of dealing with wastrels and "'drunkards in the direction of forcing them to do productive work for their "keep" arid the support of others dependent on them was discussed this morning at the meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. The Nelson Hospital and Ghnritabls Aid Beard wrote covering the following resolution: —"The Nelson. Board desires to call the-'attention of the Government to a lesolution unanimously passed at a conference of Hospital and Charitable: Aid Boards.ijii Wellington in .June, 1911, requesting the Government to found some State colony or farm where wastrels, confirmed drunkards, and other woi tnless individuals could be sent, and earnestly requested that such a question shall be brought before Parliament for earlV consideration."

The Chairman (Mr Horrell) said that the. resolution-did not- go quite far enough, it did not deal with deserting husbands, who, when arrested, were put in prison. That was no satisfaction to the Board, which was obliged to support tlie dependents. It was felt that- these men should be obliged to work and support their 'dependents. He would suggest that wife-deserters should be added to the scope of the resolution.

This suggestion received some support: Mrs Cunningham, referring to her English experience., safd that .a training farm should he added to the farm for wastrels. Mr Moore said he was. convinced that the resolution should go further, and deal .with those who refused to recognise thsir responsibilities for the support of their dependents. Thsir support was becoming quite aburden 011 the community. He would certainly support the resolution. Mr Turubull questioned even- if the men, were on the State- farm whether they would -work." He thought that State brickworks would-be better —anywhere where the men would be forced to do a certain tale of work per day. The Chairman, quite agreed that the men should be put to some reproductive work. Mrs Cunningham added that the chief points were the detention and the compulsory work on public works. Mr Hall asked if the Charitable Aid Committee would report 011 the subject and give the figures of desertion, because the subject was too big to be dealt with lightly. • ,-Y motion in this direction was carried.