DRUNKS IN THE READING ROOM.

Taihape Daily Times, 29 July 1918, Page 4

DRUNKS IN THE READING ROOM.

To the Editor. Sir—Can you tell me if the Public • Reading Room in the Town Hall is for the sober public or for the drunks to retreat to sleep, snore, and lay down in the dorway, with a flask of whisky to take a pull at. Rather an inspiring sight was to be seen there on the morning of the 26th. A man was ly- | ing across the table, moaning and | groaning. He tried to pull himself to- I gether by taking a drop out of a flask, and a few minutes later the saliva was J riming from his mouth on to the table, j I came back at 12.30 to look over the Wanganui papers and I found this same person lying down in the doorway—dead to the world. His book was on the floor, and one of the chairs was overturned. I am sure that the ladies and children do not wish to inspect drunks in the reading-room. They are to be seen in the streets and at times in the Domain, sometimes being arrested from these places. Men can put up with a drunk, but we cannot expect women to. Perhaps the. Borough Council have some recommendation to make. —I am, etc., J. T. DAVEY.