CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 71, 20 September 1912, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE

CONDITIONS AT ROTO ROA TC THE EMTOB. [ Sir.— -The inmates of the Home desire ! lie J°» lne n c } vs PP liersa l iers m ew Zea- ! mr n i •*" the P ub '' cit y given to our letter of the 31st August. It is hardly possible at the present time for us td thaftk every newspaper, but I feel certain that they v.ill not take any offence at us doing it through your column?. I feel it is only right that 1 should | briefly point out our leading grievances. j In the first case, we consider that too i much pow er is placed in the hands of the Minuter of Justice, and we submit that he is not in a position to judge the fitness or otherwise of an inmate. Men arc rendered unfit to face, thfi battlft of liio m consequence of the lengthy terjns of detention imposed and carried into effect. We further feel that a duly qualified medical mah should reside on the Island, and that a local board, consisting of the manager, the two senior magistrates in Auckland, and the visiting doctor should have the tomplote administration of the Act, and that every man's case should be judged on its merits at the expiration of six months, or under, if the board thinks necessary. In the past, the Under-Secre-tary of Justice seems to have administered the Act, and we can assure you that his administration has beeh inconsistent, and bordering on the foolish. It is also felt, particularly by the married that some remuneration should be given them for work done, so that they could send same to their wives, who feel the loss of the btead-winnet*, but in any case, (his same want would not be such a serious matter if a man was detained for six months instead ot a year or over. We also fail to see the use of sending men back for a third time. It is a peculiar fact that_ nearly all t the third timers and second timers receive sentences of one year, while a first offender, or many of them, get a two years' sentence. ' It is easy to say that under section 18 the Minister of Justice has power to discharge an inmate at any time, but it is peculiar that the time depends upon the amount of social, religious, or political influence a, man has behind him. The' question of fitness, conduct, and industry is never or seldom taken into account. So far, the Salvation Army have hot kept -a report of the men who have been discharged, though I believe they intend doing so in the future, so that no reliable proof can be obtained as to the benefits or otherwise of the institution. Why not give the six months' idoa a trial for two years, and base future detention on the facts of two years' systematic watchfulness? I am absolutely satisfied that everything that is humanly possible is done for a man in six months, and the future rests with the man himself. If, as the Act leads .one to believe, the Home -is a hospital, and the inmates patients, I contend that the patients should be discharged on the hospital plah and not kept here after they are fit and well. Hospital authorities make it their business to see that public money is not wasted, and it should bo the same here. No one doubts that a doctor often tells a man who is being discharged from the hospital to be careful of this and that, and give advice so that another attack of the old complaint may be warded off, but if that patient deliberately acts in opposition to the advice given, he must stand the consequence. When a, man is about to leave this Home, he knows his weakness, and it is hid duty to avoid it, but if he deliberately encourages it he must sthnd tho consequences. No amount of detention ■will help a man who will aot help himself, but we see no reason why men should be detained hers for no purpose after six months. As a matter of fact, lengthy detentt6n kills all the hope and good in a man, makes him morose, and fills him *with ft deep feeling of resentment against the law, the Army, and the Dominion. Wo appeal for a chance, and we»are certain that if the Homo waß run on_ the lines ihdidated by our petition, the institution would be one' of Dominion utility, and serve a useful purpose to the individual, the State, and the community at large. At present ' it does not do this. Again allow me to^ thank the New Zealand press for the whole hearted way in which they have helped us, and we feel certain that Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., is' an honourable &nd a just man, and a man who will go to no end of trouble to enquire into the grievances we have.— 1 am, etc., , CHAIRMAN, Men's Association, Roto Roa. Roto Roa Island, 14th Sept., 1912.