ROTOROA INEBRIATES ISLAND

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 127, 27 February 1928, Page 10

ROTOROA INEBRIATES ISLAND

INQUIRY INTO COMPLAINTS BY INMATES ADVISORY COMMITTEE’S RE- ’ PORT TO MINISTER I REFORMS RECOMMENDED BY Telegraph.—Press association. Auckland, February 25. The report to the Minister of Justice of the Advisory Commit* tee to the Roloroa Inebriates Island, which in December last inquired into complaints made by inmates, recommends some sweeping reforms in connection with the island. A big majority of tlie allegations made against Major Home, the .superintendent, were not proved. Referring to the allegations of the danger of fire, the report states—" The allegation opens a very serious matter, which calls for urgent attention. The two-storeyed building in which the inmates live is made of wood and corru gated iron. A fire would spread with rapidity. There are fire buckets, but these would be useless if a fire got a hold. The inmates, with a few exceptions, sleep upstairs. There is not a single fire escape, nor is there any fire drill practised. The committee can-, not stress too greatly the urgency of having fire escapes constructed, and of a regulation being gazetted 'making | compulsory the holding of fire drill every three months.” Censoring ot Letters. It was alleged by complainants that letters sent to inmates were not delivered, and were destroyed without notification, and that letters sent by inmates were not delivered, and that the censored parts of letters were destroyed and not sent to the Minister of Justice. “We do not think,” says the report, “that the superintendent has carried out his duties under regulations 6 and 7 of the Act as thoroughly as he should have done. There is, however, no foundation for part of the allegation. We think that each inmate should be required to enter in a book particulars of letters handed by him io the superintendent. We are not satisfied that the superintendent reports to the Minister his refusal to forward or deliver letters. He has misinterpreted the regulation. If a letter contains matter which, in the superintendent’s opinion should not be forwarded, he should forward the letter to the Minister, who if he is of the same opinion as the superintendent, should inform the inmate that the letter will not be sent.” A Practice Disapproved. “A specific allegatou that a telegram to an inmate was held up was made to Major Home in cross-examina-tion. Major Home admitted that the message was received on Saturday, but was not delivered until Monday. This was inexcusable. The manager’s action in aciding notes to the letters of the inmates concerning the particular inmate's welfare was well meant, but we think that the practice should be discontinued.” Question of Disease. “It is true,” states the report, “that a number of consumptive patients have been sent to the island. We cannot condemn too strongly the commits! to the island of persons suffering from any disease. We recommend that no person be committed unless a medical practitioner certifies in writing that such person is not suffering from any complaint or disease which is likely to require urgent medical attention, or which is likely to be a source of infection to other inmates. It is- clear that the present system ol dealing with the inebriates leaves much to be desired. _ The . essence of the Statute under which detention at the island is legalised is reformation, but we find very little, if anything at all, is done in this direction. “If it was realised that committal to the island meant the proper treatment of persons addicted to drink rather than punitive detention, we think that many more persons would go to the island while the disease was still in its incipient stages and with a proper chance of recovery. The present system of committing persons for not less than a certain period is wrong. It is also wrong to limit the period. If detention is for reformative treatment, then it should not extend beyond the period necessary to effect a cure. The evidence shows that inebriates should be classified into those who are curable and those who are not. Period of Committal. “Inebriates who have reached the chronic stage should be committed for an indefinite period. The committal should be looked upon in the same i light as the committal of a mentally ’ defective person. He should be re- 1 leased only by the Minister on proper ■ recommendations. , j “We are constrained to emphasise , the necessity of establishing urgent re- ( form in the present system of treat- , ment of inebriates who have not ; reached the chronic stage. We con- I sider that a qualified medical man with : special training should be appointed ! bv the Minister of Justice to take in 1 hand curative treatment of the in- * mates. The departmental instruction that applications for discharge are not to be considered until after the inmate has completed six months’ detention is, in our opinion, wrong.”