THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1908. RECLAIMING THE INEBRIATE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9054, 13 February 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1908. RECLAIMING THE INEBRIATE.

The question of how to deal with the drunkard involves one of the knottiest social problem*, of the day. It surpasses in difficulty the drink problem itself which the prohibitionist is endeavouring to solve by the total abolition of the liquor traffic, because, prohibition or no prohibition, the drunkard will remain. If he cannot supply his demands by legal means he will do so by illegal methods. Total prohibition can only be hoped for when it is in accord with public opinion, and is therefore a long way off as yet. What is needed in the meantime is some system which will tend to reclaim the drunkard. In this and many other countries the issue of prohibition orders against habitually intemperate persona has proved beneficial to some extent; but the bulk of those against whom orders are issued are too far gone to save by this process. If the practice of drinking to exces3 could be stayed ere it had taken an ineradicable hold of the drinker much greater and more lasting results would accrue. Some four years ago Judge Pollard, the presiding Magistrate at the Second District Police Court, St. Louis, adopted a plan for the reclamation of the drunkard in

his earlier stages of dipsomania which, it is claimed, has been remarkably effective. It has since been embodied in the law of many of the Stateß of America, and is now becoming the vogue in England. The plan has simplicity and humaneness for its recommendation, and would be well worth a trial in this country. Whsn a drunkard not beyond the bounds of hope is brought before Judge Pollard he is offered a chance for reclamation. He is presented with a pledge form which he may sign without oath in consideration of i the fine or term of imprisonment being stayed. He is simply placed on his honour to abstain from the use of intoxicating liquors of every kind and character for a period not ex ceding one year. The Judge requires the offender to call upon him at his house once or twice a week, in the evening, so that he may not lose any time for his work. If the probationer shows indications of having broken his pledge the Judge—really Magistrate enforces the penalty. When a conviction is entered against a drunkard in Judge Pollard's court, the Judge addresses the culprit in this wise: i "You have the opportunity to work out your own salvation; will you do it? I will fine you 50 dollars and costs, or four solid months' hard labour in the 'workhouse,' but you shan't pay one cent, or serve one minute if you will sign the temperance pledge, and keep it." The accused upon singing the document is placed upon probation, and if he observes the condition Jie is released from probation at the termination of the specified period. The Judge in explaining his system states that he does not put it into operation in the case of the old toper, or of persons of vicious disposition. He reserves lenity for offenders who are more or less desirable citizens who are inclined in their better moments to be of quiet behaviour and of some use to the community. Hew different is all this from the methods adopted in New Zealand, and especially the trethods of Magistrates like Mr Kettle, S.M., of Auckland, who would actually place a distinctive badge upon a prohibited person! Judge Pollard states that during his four years' trial of the system he has found it fail in oniy 5 per cent, of the cases in v.hich he has applied it. The system practically nips the disease in the bud, and the advantage of this must prove incalculable to the State, as well as to th.* individual. It is being put into practice by, Mr Plowden, the well-known London Police Magistrate, and other English Magistrates, and the result will be watched with great interest by those concerned in the reform of the drunkard. It is understood that Judge Pollard's plan is to be embodied in an amending Probation Bill to be introduced by the British Government into Parliament, and ouc own Legislature might well give the system a trial.