CARE OF INEBRIATES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2611, 5 November 1915, Page 3

CARE OF INEBRIATES

HOMES IN HAURAKI GULF

DR. M'NAB'S IMPRESSIONS

REFORMS IN VIEW

In the course of Lis recent-tour-of the prison, institutions in the north the Minister of Justice-spent a day at the Inebriate Homes a-t Pakatoa and Koto Koa- Islands. Dr. M'Nab gave KOmo of his impressions regarding these institutions to a Dominion reportor yesterday.

"There Was a good deal to be learned from contact with the men confined there," said Dr. M'Nab, "and as a result of what I have learned probably some few modifications will be made in the administration at . headquarters. There seems to be no settled rule about the liberation of. men. In the past it has depended on nothing in particular, and I propose to throw the responsibility, for liberating inmates on the committee set up by my predecessor, which committee consists of the Auckland Magistrate, the visiting medical man, and tho local- manager. I also intend to try to arrange to have the public represented on the committee. My proposal is to the committee the entire responsibility, for advising when treatment has advanced sufficiently, in particular cases to warrant liberation. I. algo considered the question' of classification of inmates. This can best be ichieved, I think, by the establishment at other centres of similar institutions, and putting different classes in different institutions. Owing'to the present financial stringency this is not'feasible just now. We shall give information to magistrates who commit so that they may know exactly how the institutions ■aire.run'.- This is necessary,in my opinion i because-there -is always clanger, although we have not fallen into it yet, that a criminal section.will bo put into these' homes, and it lvas never intended that criminals should be sent there. I think that if magistrates know how we are placed they will be able to use judgment as' to who they shall com-, mit. If the scheme is over afterwards developed,'we shall have a special pkco in which to place men who otherwise would be sent to prison.

."We are indebted to the Salvation Army for the site and buildings, and the general administration. In my opinion there is_ little to justify us in taking over the institutions until we are ■satisfied that we have a workable scheme, a scheme tJaat has the effect of curing inebriety. The scheme is at present in its experimental stage, and it is far better to have the question of success or failure of the system decided as things are-now before we establish a State institution."