CARE OF INEBRIATES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 53, 26 November 1907, Page 8

CARE OF INEBRIATES.

SALVATION ARMY'S HOME AT BELL'S ISLAND. A HOSPITAL, NOT A GAOL. (BT TELEGRAPH —SrECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Auckland, November 25. The " Herald " lias an interesting article descriptive of tho Salvation Army's new scheme for an inebriate's home at Bell's Island in the Hauraki Gulf. Curiously enough, says the writer, the Army, which has branches in every corner of the Globe,' has in this Dominion first found an opportunity it has long sought. One of tho great branches of its work is the caro of inebriates and. the reformation'of the drunkard ; but hitherto efforts ill this direction have been hampered, because the State and the Army were not co-operating to the best advantage. Last year the Habitual Drunkard's Act was passed. This delincs an habitual druukard as a person who, upon conviction, has been three times previously convicted of drunkenness within nine months, and gives a Magistrate power to commit that person to an institution. "Institution" means any institution, society, or body of persons whose objects, or part of whose objects, are tho care and reclamation of persons addicted to drink, and authorised by the Government to receive and detain persons under this Act. Tho committal may be for any period not less than twelve months, and any person escaping may bo recaptured and dealt- with as for an escape from gaol. Light offences may be punished by' the withdrawal of tobacco or other extras, by confinement to a room or cell for a period not exceeding three days, or by a diet inferior to that in general use, while mpre serious offences against tho order and disciplino of the institution bring the offender before a magistrate, who may impose a sentence of six months in gaol, with or without hard labour, the offender to be returned to the institution after the expiry of tho sentence. This made it possible for the Salvation Army to undertake a great and important work, and the first experiment is to be made in Auckland, Pakatoa, or Bell's Island, in the Hauraki Gulf, having been obtained for tho and already the place is being fitted out. 11l another few weeks tho Army will bo prepared to receive inebriates at the islaud, and in 1 the meantime it is framing a complete set of by-laws founded on the regulations of one of its certified reformatories in England, to submit for the Governor's approval. A VISIT TO THE ISLAND. At the invitation of the Army a number of citizens interested in tho work journeyed to tho island on Saturday. The island which is situated between Waihcke and Ponui Islands, and commands a superb view of the Goromandel ranges, was reached about one o'clock after a three hours' voyage, and the passengers were transferred to rowing boats for the landing on the beach. A more picturesque spot could scarcely have been desired. On either side of the island there are beautiful sandy beaches, strewn with sea shells,' and flanked by jagged reefs over which the waves beat furiously in time of storm. Gentle slopes of, green by tile, coast rise to hill cones in the centre of the island. Over to tho left are the broad uplands of Waiheke, and beyond and all around the deep blue waters' of the " Incomparable Gulf." Only a few yards above the surf line stands tho accommodation houso erected by Mr. Bell, and now to become part of the reformatory. It would be difficult to imagine an island with buildings more suited to the Army's vpurpose. •' LABOUR-SAVING 'APPLIANCES. Mr. Bell is ono 1 of those mechanicallyinclined men who seek to mako all appliances and all fittings as convenient and laboursaving as" possible, and, in this respectj the buildings are models. The building nearest the beach is a long one-story bungalow, plainly but well constructed, with every room fitted in a convenient manner. There are no dust-catching ledges, and oven the junctions of floors and walls are provided with rounded beading to prevent the lodging of dust. Water taps are in each room, and the rooms aro well lighted, while a broad verandah faces the water front. With a few small internal alterations, this building, will be admirably suited for tho reformatory, and will accomodate fifty inmates. The water supply is provided by a series of connected tanks. To the right ( again, are two other buildings, one of which will be utilised for the staff quarters, and tho other for the " Retreat" or Home for voluntary paying patients. Neat paths connect the various buildings. A Crooke's gas supply for both lighting and cooking is provided. There aro a boiler-house with engine and saws for firc--wood cutting, a completely fitted engineer's shop with oil engines for running turning lathes, electric dynamo, etc., and from the dynamo various parts of the building, and tho top_of the Square look-out tower above the building, that is to be the staff quarters, aro supplied with light, and there aro also elcctric heating appliances for ironing, etc. Tho whole placo is of good, sound timber. There is nothing ancient about it, and tho Army has been fortunate in securing so suitable a scene for an experiment which will be watched with keen interest throughout • the Dominion and beyond. Tho Salvation Army has secured a three years' lease of the island, with tile option of purchase at any period during that time, and has just takoii tho place over. METHOD OF TREATMENT. Inebriates committed there by the Magistrate will bo lodged in the "Reformatory" section, and, first of all, in the big dormitory. As tho character of the man shows itself, so will have to bo shaped his treats ment; Men who show themselves trustworthy will bo drafted into the bedroom apartments. It must be remembered that tho'Army is setting itself the-task of helping the minds, building up tho characters, and strengthening the wilj-powcr and moral force of those it will receive at this island. The inebriates aro .■ really "patients," not criminals, and 'the. Home is a hospital, not a gaol. It is important, that tho . distinction should be remembered. There-must be the power of detention, and likewise there must be the power of committal to tho home, so also must disciplino bo preserved; but there tho prison idea ends, and tile hospital idea begins. Men who cannot resist the craving for intoxicants will be shown how to resist, their bodily strength will'be built up through healthy and bright surroundings, systematic and clean living, work and recreation in the open air, courses of invigorating sea-bathing, and proper diet. Their charactars will bo dealt with in just the. same strengthening -way. Their weak moral fibre will be tended to make it strong, and in this way the Army hopes to make real men out of the material that comes its way. Then there aro many cases of men who kno>v their own failing, and are not too far gone to want to conquer it. Just as they can apply for a prohibition order against themselves, so they can apply for commitment to the inebriates' home for months, and there are cases of men in good positions nover convicted for drunkenness, but still wasting their substance and ruining their bodies through excessive drinking,' and it will bo possible for these also to go to tho island, and by paying accordingly they will bo provided tor in a separate institution, and' undergo the same careful skilled treatment. FISH AND POULTRY. ' The waters in the vicinity teem with fish, and so there will be sport for those who desire it, with the double advantage of providing tho home with an article of. diet. J'robably also fish may be provided for the city institutions of tho Army in the same way, and there is also a smoke house on tho island. In tho centre of the island there is a sheltered valley, and this will bo entirely devoted to poultry farming—food production again—and tho experience gained thereby may show many a young man tho road to profitable industry. There will bo gardening on an extensive scale, and no lack of opportunity to learn various occupations At present fifty men can be provided lor in tho main building, and from six to toil in the "Retreat"—ample accommodation tor the initial stages of the experiment. It is tlie first homo the Army has been able lo establish in tjio world to which there is direct power of committal by the Bench. Should success crown tho efforts, then other similar institutions will bo erected in other parts of New Zealand by the Army, and the results will bo duly mado known to tho Parliament? of different countries.