REPORT ON ROTO ROA

Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1928, Page 4

REPORT ON ROTO ROA

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS SWEEPING REFORMS. AUCKLAND, Feb. 20. The report to the Minister of Justice of the Advisory Committee to Roto Ron, the inebriates’ island, which in December last inquired into complaints made by inmates, recommends some sweeping reforms in connection with the island. The big majority of the allegations .made against Major Home, the superintendent, were not proved. Referring to the allegation ol clangor of fire tlie report states that the allegation opens a very serious matter, which calls for urgent attention. The two-storeyed building in which the inmates live is made ot wood and corrugated iron. Firo would spread with rapidity. There are tire buckets hut those would lie useless it a fire got a hold. The inmates, with a few exceptions, sleep imstaii'.s There is not a .single, fire escape nor is any fire drill practised. The committee cannot stress too greatly the urgency of having lire escapes constructed, and < f regulation being gazetted making compulsory the holding of tire drill every three months. It was alleged by complainants that letters sent to inmates were not delivered. and were destroyed without lv.itilicntion. and that letters sent by inmates wore not delivered, and that ceil.lOrcd parts of letters were destroyed ami not sent to the Minister of Jus. t ice. "We do not think" says the report “that the superintendent has carried out his duties under Regulations 0 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 l»e required to enter in a hook particulars of letters handed by him to the superintendent. We are not satisfied that- the .superintendent reports to the Minister liis refusal to forward or deliver letters. He lias misinterpreted tlie regulation. If a letter contains matter which, in the superintendent's. • opinion, should not he forwarded, ho 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 specific allegation that a telegram to an inmate was held up was made to Major Home in cross-examin-ation. -Major Home admitted that a message was received on a Saturday bint was not delivered until Monday. This was inexcusable.. The. manager’s action in adding notes to letters concerning the particular inmate’s welfare was well meant, but we think that the pract ice should bo discontinued.” ' “Tl is true.” states the report, ‘‘that a number of eolnsumptive patients have been sent to the island. We cannot condemn too qtroiigly committal to the island of persons suffering from any disease. We recommend that no person be committed unless a medical practitioner certifies in writing that siicli person is not suffering from any complaint or disease which is likely to require urgent medical attention, or which is likely to lie a source of infection to other inmates. "'ll is clear I lint the present system of dealing with, inebriates heaves much to be desircil. I’ll' essence of Hie slalut" mid. r which detention at Ibc the island is legalised is reformat ion. bill we find very tittle at all is done in Ibis direction. If it was realised that committal t> the island meant the proper treatment for 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 a.I-o urong to limit the period. It detention is for reformative treatment, then it should not extend beyond the per- • iod necessary to effect a cure. Evi- ! deuce .shows that inebriates should be classified into those who are curable and those who are not. “Inebriates who have reached Hie chronic stage .should he committed for an indefinite period. Committal should be looked upon in the same light as committal of a. mentally defective person. He should be released only by the Minister on proper recommendations. "We are constrained to emphasise j the necessity of establishing urgent reform in the present, system of treatI nicnt of inebriates who have not reached the chronic stage. We consider that a qualified medical man. with •special training, should bo appointed by the Minister of Justice to take in band the curative treatment of inmates. The departmental instruction that applications for discharge are not to lie considered until after the inmate has completed six months’ detention is, in our opinion., wrong.”