BANK OF NEW ZEALAND PREMISES

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 621, 25 September 1909, Page 16

BANK OF NEW ZEALAND PREMISES

say -that vthe ;relationship' between.'.".inebriety. .and-.-mental defect received-careful oonsidcra-' tiori, from: the recent Royal Commission on the' core, and control of. the feeble-minded, and in their" report the' commissioners., recommended: r-'/Tliat-as it appears that many mentally defective Cases, are. at present, dealt'With'iin Scotland under.: tho Inebriates* Acts, it is desirable that those-Acts/beamended'so far be necessary-iri'/'order to make it' clear: that the local authorities shall", bounder tho' obligation 'of dealing with such inebriates as-are mentally: defectivo... - t -The, committee concur-. in, this: recommendation, .but. state that',not until., the. nature and extent of tho mental defect usually, associated with, inobrioty 'arc inoro definitely understood than; at present'will it bo possible to frame' proper legislative proposals for. the care and control ofi feeble-minded inebriatesV But in / the; meantime it is an.urgent necessity: to make.provision for the care and;control of lall .inebriates ; under, an: amended Inebriates 'Aot, and, the, experience which would follow its enforcement would suggest the kind of provision 'needful.for the' separate care of thoso who are also feeble-minded. , ; 4 A Classic Case. ■'.'.;,..'.'. 'One fact of great .practical importance stands' out clearly,—viz., that the mentally defective person who is also an inebriate rarely becomes insane in. the ordinarily accepted;sonse' : of the tarm- .until tho deterioration caused, by .long

and while under.tho influonce.-of'snch.or in consequence • of; the ' effects thereof, is . (a) at times dangerous'to himself'or any other -person ; or (b) - at times incapable of managing ' himself or his affairs; or: (c) at times a'caiiso of/harm'or 6crious annoyance to his family or to. any other person; or ,(d)-unfit to have the ■» of any child of/which he is tho parent." • •'■'}« 'tno-'power;to .license retreats 6hould be in-tho;hana9 of tho Secretary • for Scotland, and that all'licensed should be subject to Buch inspection!as shall bo- directed 'by the' Secretary for Scotland. ">-":■' ■-■•',.•'' _That.it should.not'bb lawful for'any'person for paymont to-board! and'lodge in an unlicensed, house, more than one inebriate at-'the samo time.. .'■:. ;..■:.; . .-That power: be giyen; to .the .licensee ot a retreat or any .person authorised in writing by him, and tetany police constable; without further warrant than the;original committal warrant or. request for reception, to retake any inmate.who has escaped therefrom, or who, during leavq of, absence, breaks any;of the conditions of leave of. absence/■'.' ■;.■ ■ ; Detention and Diseharje. That the power, to ordcrUhe discharge of-an inmate from a retreat should be in the hands of the Secretary for Scotland. No order for tho dischav'go of-nn inmnto before the'expiration of tho period /or. whioh he signed, or ho« ■boon oomiaiited, should bo madj uaJca four-.

teen days' previous notice of the hearing of tlio application has been given to all persons interested. ■ ■■ ' That power bo-given to a relative, friend, or guardian, or other person having an interest, .anqi-totho Procurator-Fiscal, to petition' the for an order.of guardianship, or for the committal, to a retreat of an alleged inebriate. That when making an order of or an order for compulsory detention in a retreat the Sheriff should alio be; empowered to require,. where' necessary,... the inebriate, or any. person on whom he is legally dependent, .to 'pay the, expenses of.-. the"■'•' application of guardianship, or maintenance in a retreat, tn such .an: extent; as the Sheriff may consider reasonable, and.'proper, whore, the inebriate or ;suchother person ls'possessed of means available for .this - purpose/ . ~ .• ■'•.•.'■'■■■ .'■That a ■Treasury grant sliould:. be .made'to any af tor-care associations', approved by' the Secretary for Scotland to induco them to render assistance'.-.to inebriates' on -their release from reformatories. ' '■'"'.,;'■ .■■■""• ~..?'." i :;'-' "■ .That tho State should' "nt its own cost'pro- 1 vide accommodation and'maintenance of all inebriates who nrb convicted of ari offence, ; and who are committed by the Courts.' The Inebriates in reformatories should bo classified. — Weekly Scotsman."