ROTO ROA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1580, 25 October 1912, Page 5

ROTO ROA.

REPORT OP ME. C. C. KETTLE, S.M. The conduct of tlio two homes for inebriates on Roto Roa and Pakntoa Islands is thoroughly approved by Mr. C. C. Kettle, senior magistrate at Auckland, trho recently imule a report njion them at the request of tlio Minister for Justice. Somo extracts from his report were, read to the House of Representatives by the Minister on Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Kettle slates that at the time ofhis visit there were 101 male inmates.at Jtoto Roa and 20 female inmates at Pakntoa. The buildings, he say.", are in firstclass order and condition, and well furnished. The food is abundant and excellent mid every effort is being made by the Salvation Army and its officials to make tho inmates comfortable. Tlio inmates expressed to Sir. Kettle their gratitude for the kindly and considerate manner in which they are treated. "The institutions nre," he considers, "doing excellent work. The benefit which inmates receive is, I am convinced, very considerable, and in tho majority of the cases I believe lasting." Tho magistrate remarked that tho liability to detention in the homes had a decidedly deterrent and exceedingly wholesome influence over those who aro inclined to drink to excess, and who would probably become habitual inebriates. Ho considers that tho homes have fully justified their existence. Representations were made by tho inmates regarding inequality of periods of detention, release on probation, and the committal to the homes of persons convicted of indictable offences. Certain suggestions were iiintle by Mr. Kettle with regard to these matters and these Mr. ITerdman remarked would receive his careful consideration. Om> matter referred to by Jlr. ICettlo was in regard to tlio question of whether the inmates should have voles in tho electoral district in which the home is situated. Upon this , ho remarked that the holding of meetings and oonvassing for votes a(; tho homes do not tend to promote discipline.