INEBRIATES' HOME

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14441, 6 February 1909, Page 5

INEBRIATES' HOME

VISIT TO PAKATOA ISLAND. THE MINISTER INTERVIEWED. (Fkol£ On* o\V.\ COP.RESrOXDF.KT.) AUCKLAND, February 5. The 39 inebriate on Pakatoa Island received a visit yesterday from Dr Findlay, and the Minister lias been impressed by what he saw tlitre. On lioinjr interviewed, Dr Findlay made a statement which has an important bearing on the system of detent ion of inebriates generally. 110 said: "Several of the men asked finest ions which I answered, and I received a petition from the men who are there on a term of two veavs' detention, asking that the detention should not- continue for two years. The Salvation Army officials.have every confidence in the benslicinl results of the system, and have already acquirod another island adjacent with the view of providing further accommodation ami, if possible, establishing a similar inst'rlntion for female inebriates. I ascertained that tlie majority of the inmates recoaui-ed fioiK-fiwnt and refoniwtive purposes of their detention, and, subject to some amendments in the system, which I think can be properly effected, any existing discontent will be dispelled."

The Minister proposes to give the whole mutter console! atirm immediately, and, with the assistance of t.'ie officers in charge, is hopeful of making Ihe whole system work smoothly and effectively. On being questioned ns to the result-; uf the treatment, the .Milliliter said: "I think it has two effects. One is potential, and the other actual. I was assuiod by the magistrate that liability of commitment, to the island for a year or more has a distinctly deterrent effect on inebriates, in general, and that when three convictions have been recorded and the inebriate is faced with the fact that another conviction expesss liini to commitment to the island, an extra effort is made, by him to keep sotier. This, I hclieve. lias » marc extensive influence thou at first sight tippeal's. T!io second advantage is that the life led there is exceedingly healthy. There is regular work of a proper kind, regular diet, and, of course, a complete absence of intoxicating drink in any form. I think it- will lie generally admitted that a, detention under these conditions for a term of, say, a year, is in most, cases the best fmni of treatment which can lie applied. Experience (ill over the world lias shown how difficult it is to effect a permanent cure in these eases, and a considruble number of failures must, tie expected- under the systems of this kind. It must, be remembered, however, that the experiment now being tried ut Paliatoa. has lieen in vo ,r nc only about a year, and it is too early vet to express any competent judgment as' to results. Further experience—a trial of, say. a few years—will afford the data ujion which we will be able to finally pronounce judgment as to the efficacy of the system. Meantime, I think it should get, as it is getting, from the Government fair and encouraging assistance."

In reply to nnot'iior question, Dr Findlay said that 110 doubt- thirc were several discontented men on the island. Some of the southern men committed by southern magistrates had been committed for two years, whereas the Auckland magistrates liad scut- no one for more than one year. There was nothing in the eases to justify the difference; in fart, the .Minister found from the report of (lie officers tlml some of the men there for two years were showing move reliable evidences of reform and cure. than some who had been sent for only one year. Put in a few words, such discontent, so far as one could seriously consider it at all. was based upon the impression tht the discontented men were being detained longer than any reformative treatment desired. and that the longer period was taking the character nf puniive treatment. There was nothing else to complain of. There were some insolent ment there who were not- taken notice oi.

Willi regard to the question of length of detent-ion, the Minister snid that in liirs opinion it was dosiiablo (lint the first commitment should if possible bp'for a. definite and reasonable term, but, of course. in each ease magistrates would have l<> exercise a wise discretion as to how long an inmate should be detained, finder (lie act as it stood the minimum term of detention was 12 months, and he understood that the detention of all tlie men who had been sent from Auckland was limited to that time. Some of the inmates sent from other parls had been eommiti-ed for two years. This Ikkl given some dissatisfaction amongst- the inmates, and he would consider. on bis velum to Wellington, tlie applications which bad been made to him by the long-term inunites for the reduction of their sentence to 12 mouths. Ifo would nl?o consider the question of admitting to probation inmivtes who had conducted themselves well during their detention. In short, lie wonltl do everytliinsr in iris pawer to ensure tlie good result.'; wliich lie lio|)ed would lie obtained under the act, which provided for the treatment of habitual drunkards.

District- Judge Kettle has expressed the opinion that as a result- of the Minister's visit- it was probable tba-t there would tx? some amendments in the act so as to extend the definition of "habitual drunkards." At present- an habitual drunkard wa.s a person cnnvic.kd four times in nine months, while there were esses which v.-<-re much lief tor qualified for Paka-toa which could not be sent there on account of the wording of the act.