A REFORMATORY HOME.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 134, 7 June 1911, Page 5

A REFORMATORY HOME.

EIGHTS OF VOLUNTARY' INMATES. A civil action was commenced at the Auckland Supreme Court yesterday before Mr. Justice Edwards and a jury of four, in which Walter John Stevens, a retired farmer, of Canterbury, claimed from Robert Barnes, superintendent of the Salvation Army Reformative Homes at Pakatoa and Roto Roa, the sum of £100 damages for alleged wrongful' detention and £5 18/4 money retained for board. Mr. Singer appeared for claimant and Mr. Tunks for defendant. On behalf of plaintiff it was claimed that as he was a voluntary inmate it was necessary under the provisions of the Reformatory Institutions Act to get Ma consent to transfer to another institution, and as this had not been done his removal and detention at Roto Rpa, in face of protests, was illegal, and that in addition a charge could not be made, for Board since the removal from Pakatoa to Roto Roa. A technical breach was admitted, but it was' contended that defendant acted in good faith and with reasonable care, and that plaintiff had suffered no damage.'

His Honor ruled in favour of plaintiff on the illegality of detention, and by consent judgment was entered for the amount claimed (£5 13/4). The damage suffered was left for the determination of the jury. The jury had not completed their deliberations when the "Star" went to press.