CORRESPONDENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7504, 11 September 1902, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE CARE OF INEBRIATES AND DESTITUTE OLD MEN. / TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — The- conference between 1 the Samaritan "Home Trustees and the Charitable Aid Board shows that we hay& a plurality of institutions who do not know their duties and neglect their responsibilities and obligations towards those who have to pay th-e piper. The proposal from the Samaritan Home Trustees, to be placed under the Inebriates' Institution. Act, cnlh* loudly for protest. If it were, it would bo the thin edge of the wedge to undermine th» State's power of control of constitutional liberties and rights. Blackstone — an authority on the constitutional laws of Great Britain-— states: — "Of great importance to th© public is tlhe preservation of personal liberty ; for, if once lefb to the power of any, etc., to imprison, or confine, arbitrarily, whosoever he or his officers thought proper, there would be an end to all rights and immunities." We haire, alter great efforts, obtained Inebriate' Homes, under State Control, and constitutionally cafe-guarded. If we 'allow private institution* to deal with the sacredness .of personal liberties, the possible incentive to make them commercial commodities may become burdtensome. There are many hearings that have to be considered before we commit ourselves in matters relative to these various institUr tions ; and I feel that this coming general election will show that the future members of our tnew House of Reprerontativea will see a great necessity for dealing with the responsibilities, the methods, the cost, and the representation of these institutions.-- 1 am, etc., W, H. DACOMBE. Christchurch, Sept. 11.