Correspondence. Correspondents' opinions are not necessarily ours. "THE INEBRIATES INSTITUTIONS ACT, 1898."

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 11, 22 June 1899, Page 3

Corresp ondence. Correspondents' opinions are not necessarily ours. "THE INEBRIATES INSTITUTIONS ACT, 1898."

(TO THIS IJTOTOTt.) Snt,— Who iis to U.irae for the statetnent in Mi Milsom's jettei in your issute of Dlie 17th infet. Ihe Inelniates Institution*, Act, 189b, passed m the Bimsh Hous>e of Common's leceutiy. At fiisfc I toftVJ'ciined to set it clow a' the P.D., but 6tli£i inaccuracies in the Jettei indicating ihijtlli Muaoiti Wi u d designate "Jack of knowledge" leal, me to believe that fceutienian quire" capable of making' the b'tintiei In this case there is 'a good deal in a linuie, for 4.he titles of the Acts Mi Mi'som leteis to in hia^ letter indicate theu contents. Beioie going into that todUei. ho^evci^ letnue say thab the subject.of the cm alive tieannient ot mebuates, which is the one under discussion;' is not a hobby ot mine nor have I given *midi attention 'to it. I am much moie inteiestea in the pievenUon than in the cuie. of diuukenness." . Though I have given but little attention to the pi'oposa'B foi the cuie oi drunkenness, I can claim Without undue assumption to be better infomie.l as to le^ent legislation relating thei^io than Mi Milsom, if his letter is to be taken as the ineasuie ot his knowledge. I stiul when wuung previously on this subject that oui New Zealand Act of las* yeai.was a better one tb.vn that recently p.ib-'od by the Impei ial Parliament. * A Ochue to tale up as little of your space a8 Dohhiole pievenled me then making a compauson beaween tbe Acts,, but- Mr Mi'&rtm appears to consider the ni'atter one ' «f gieat Hflpoi+ance, a»d "iiopes that the »" Nefr Zea an<t uieasiTitl iiiay_ soon be SUoiafei And edioialia^ the lineS of 'ihk

Biitish one." I shall proceed to give him information he evidently lacks. He will then be able to indicate to the le^ia'atme what amendments aie' leqnired to In ing our Act up to the Biitish one. The o>\\v neisons who can be dea't with under the Habitual Inebnafes Art, 1898 (B.itish), aie such as have been convicted of d 1d 1 unk enness at least, font ti'.ies in one yea. An inebuafe who h i,s thus q'in mcd may lie -sent to .V) Inebu-ite liefo;in,v >iy to. a period ot no: le*9 than one '.car T)v oui AH, ,111 v oviden"e which will taVf* a Sfipe.uli.il \ M«i«{isliftte tli.i' a pei^osi is <v\ nielui ie will ?ns.ii.a a 'joiii.mriiie'ir,. 'I'mc Bufisli Act (lons ujf, ptop >se Mia 1 , th > 'Jtoveintneiit sh mkl pinucle iei >iinnt >ik>^, Oat 10s o"i pet vjjk hi oim ino'ju.ite eoinnnttev.l will be u'liiue i to'ief"i'i),i J > l '-. e-sraoiiilie Ib> leli^tous *>■ q.im^.it i ) i^,, p'litantlnopii societies, ot pnv.re hnii\hiu,i ■? Hy om A^t, onl,> G n T eui. ne.it c<i i pi >vi io and equip mstitoli >ns. Un lei Mit. I) l.'ish Act only " Ijai I e.iiu?." suc'i .i-. u-vuil'y have no dcpne to jcfiiiui can bo dea't with. Oiu Act ip.i"hoseve.\ dips iiivinwc without the qqa'ih'Mtio'i nt even ouo o mviotioiV loi (tiHuliennc^s. All th.it is lequued now is th<n .Mr Se ido.i si vi d put the Act in foice, and spsivl a te>v thovisaiiditio.ii his Miip'iii in piovllrm one oi nioie institiU,ion a , ii.vp^, nuleed, Mi Mi'soin is not yet saf.is(i j t that oiii Act isal lervt n^ yood as the I'.ntHh one, ani woald like to sc j p tl l njvoved. Tiiere is auotliei matter in Ml M isjin's letter 1 wish to lefer to I .' That ge.it'emaii 'h,ik»s the lidiculnus statement that Fiohibuioni&ts look to Jenal enactinen's to suppiess Ihe love ot stumi'auta. Piohibitniusts in New Zealand have nevei sought to suppiess the dank winch causes the love of Minm'ants, e\nepi by the will of the people expiesspd at the ballot box. It is difficult to conceive that Mr Milsom can believe otherwise,— l am, etc , Thos. Bhown*