ROTO ROA CONTROL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1768, 5 June 1913, Page 3

ROTO ROA CONTROL.

" COMPLAINTS BYAGITATORS."

ALLEGATIONS DENIED.

REPLIES B7 ARMY OFFICERS,

Tho system of control of tho Koto Eoa luebriates' Home has' been subjected to criticism recently, it being made to appear that tho Salvation Army officials at tho island had sanctioned the criticism in question* A number of resolutions have been circulated, and it lias been stated that Staff-Captain Haines, in charge of the Island, voted for the resolutions, and promised to bring tlicm before the Army Congress, which is at present being held in Wellington.

Staif-Captain Haines and Brigadier Bray, in charge of tho social work of tho Army, wero seen yesterday by a Dominion representative, and an absolute denial was made that the Army had in any way associated itself with the resolutions purporting to have been passed by the inmates. Staft'-Captain Haines stated that ho presided at a meeting held by the inmates last week, when several small matters affecting the comfort of tho men were discussed, but, he added, it was absolutely incorrect to say ho had supported any resolutions criticising the Home, and the system of control. Neither had ho promised to bring the matter bofore the congress. Brigadier Bray explained that an Army officer now attended all meetings held by the men. At one time the men held tho meetings whenever they felt inclined, without supervision, bnt this was considered inadvisable, and was stopped. The presenco of an Army officer at a meeting did not, however, signify the Army's approval of any matters discussed. "The questions raised- in the criticism referred to have been raised for the last throe years," said Brigadier Bray, "and they havo continually been brought up by three or four agitators. When they are discussed by tho men the management carefully refrain from entering into any argument." The Resolutions. The resolutions which Staff-Captain Haines is credited with having endorsed, and voted for, are as follow:— Resolution No. I.—ln the cause of Christianity it is to he regretted that the Salvation Army in N.Z. so far depart (from ; ithe foundatfon principles of their organisation as to carry on an institution, and in their name which is nothing moro or less, under existing conditions, than a Government gaol, to which men are committed—tn many cases without proper trial—not for reformative treatment, but fov. punishment, to lengthy terms of imprisonment, out of all proportion to the gravity of their offence—and much greater than those accorded criminal offenders in many instances. Resolution No. 2.—Tho departure and the maladministration of the Act place an unfair burden upon the officers of the institution, and render this work, from a reformative 'standpoint, practically ineffective, inasmuch as they are apparently precluded from - urging the men to attend divine service, and many of the men, by reason of tho position in which they are placed, harbour feelings of deep animosity against the Christian faith, and associato it and the ATmy with the injustice of which they conceive themsslvos to bo the victims, Resolution No. 3.—Upon the principle recognised by a free, liberal, and civilised people, that no one should be compelled against his will and conscience to enter any- institution of any religious body, men should come into the home voluntarily under Section 7, or if under Section 8, only after having first been given the option of going to a common gaol for three months, or elsewhere. Section 9 should he repealed as . being arbitrary and opposed to British sense of justice and as placing undue power in th& hands of interested parties. Eesolution No. 4.—That in any system of treatment''efforts should be made towards the restoration of the_ self-respect of tho individual, the reviving of hope and tho encouragement of industry and conduct; therefore, the recommendation of Parliament should be adopted, viz., "That when a man has been in the homo for six months and his industry and conduct are good, and he is physically and ! mentally fit, he bo discharged ; and, furthermore, that the illegal and highly obnoxious. and unchristian practice iof opening and reading most of i the men's private correspondence be discontinued; such a practice being exceedingly detrimental in. an institution such as this, whore the' men are only offenders, and it renders the Institution unworthy of the name "Home," much less of a Christian one.

Resolution No. s.—That upon tlio Army agreeing that the aforementioned recommendation of Parliament be applicable to all inmates—those under Section 7 included—tlio resident medical officer and the manager be empowered to act thereunder, Mini that a right of appeal to the Minister for Justice bo allowed anyone feeling himself aggrieved. Resolution No. G.—That there be only one period of detention for all men entering the institution, viz., twelvamonths, and subject to the recommendation of Parliament as before mentioned. Resolution No. 7.—That under existing conditions the men are not morally improved, the Army services are avoided, there is no confidence between officers and men, and when men leave the institution they generally resort to their previous habits as a protest against the treatment they received, and in consequence very few cures aro effected. The Army's Position. Proceeding Brigadier - Bray explained that the inmates had full opportunity of airing all their grievances when Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., recently held an inquiry into the home, on instructions from the Minister for Justice. Since then, nothing new had transpired. As a result of the report made by Mr. Kettle the Justice Department gave instructions that no men known to jje criminals, as well as drunkards, should be committed to the home,' and men suffering from incurable or contagious diseases are not to bo ndinitted. "Uniformity in the length of sentences imposed has always been one of the points raised by the inmates," said Brigadier Bray, "but, the Army have nothing to do with that.- The men aro sent to the homo by qualified magistrates, who have carefully considered the records of tho men before them. As a matter of fact, men .with two years' sentences were nearly always allowed out at the end of twelve months, being allowed probation for the remaining period. Since Mr. Kettle's report the sentences have seldom exceeded one year." Brigadier Bray said lie considered it advisable that the inmates' correspondence should be examined. Great discretion was used, however, and when a letter was seen to vergo on personal matters it was not further read, nor were letters between a mau and liis wife read. All the complaints, considered tho Brigadier, could be traced to a few asiiators. The majority of tho men were well aware of the benefits accruing to them by their being placed in the home, ami they were quite content. Dissatisfied men had an opportunity of placing lheir grievance directly before the heads of the Government, for the Army did not open letters sent out to Ministers, nor members of Parliament.

Concluding, Brigadier Bray said: "The Army does not associate itself in any way with resolutions passed by the men. We deal direct with the Department, and not in conjunction with the men."