WERAROA ESCAPEES

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 132, 5 June 1923, Page 8

WERAROA ESCAPEES

COMPLAIN- ABOUT THE FOOD,

When two young escapees from the Weraroa Training 1 Farm appeared at the Palmerston North Magistrate's Court last week the accused were asked from ..the Bench, to state their reason for running -away 'from the- training farm. A ready reply, came from one of the boys: "The food is awful there. There are ■maggots in the porridge every other morning.'-'- At that Detective-Sergeant Quirke, conducting the case for the police,, suggested that the Bench should not take such allegations too seriously. "They would say anything in justification' of their liberty," he remarked. "Boys there are ieally well treated." ■■ ' "Yoii '■ would -say differently if you could see what things are like there," was the rejoinder of the accused, who had answered the question from the Bench, whereupon Mr. A. J, Graham, J.P., asked further questions of the accused and remarked: "It would seem that an inquiry into the conditions at the Weraroa Farm would be a desirable measure." ■ '.

In view of the statements made by the accused, a "Levin Chronicle" representative paid a visit to the Farm, and made' inquiries regarding the allegations. The matron, who is in charge* of the kitchen arrangements, explained that a couple of. days prior -to the boys' escape a member of the .-• staff i found 'i: small .'grub' of..thp,:,variety,frequently formed ■in -'Oatmeal in his porridge. Next day one of the boys made a similar discovery. ..These.', were; the only complaints made, arid the first ones on. this score during the eleven years ehe had.been connected with the institution. When the discovery was made, the sack from which^ the oatmeal was taken was put aside," and _ from.' the remainder of ths stock special lots of porridge were boiled'up and searched for further gj'ubs,. but without result. As no further complaints were received it would appear that one bag only had bpen affected. Asked about the food supplied, the matron ?av» tht" ' followine menu :—Breakfast,: Porridge, bread and butter, and cocoa. Dinner: Every day exoept Tuesday and Friday, as much meat as the boys can eat, vege-. tables, and pudding, which on two days is a milk pudding, two days plum-pud--dins, and on the other days of the week stewed fruit or fruit-tart. ■ On Tuesday pea-soup is served instead of meat, and on Friday, fish.. Tea consists of bread and butter, four half-slices of the whole loaf and always buns, scones, or cakes, .with, at times, heated vegetables, che&se,; rice, etc. On Sunday, when cold meat is served for dinner, a salad is always supplied,, also pickles. Besides this every boy can have as many apples as he can eat, a case of them standing in the yard, from which they may help themselves. 1 A visit was mbade to the dormitories.which are airy and well-kept, with spring cots, white sheets, and a sufficient number of blankets. We may add (states the, "Chronicle") that bur represents-, tive has paid previous visits to the Farm, and can speak highly, of the well-fed,, healthy appearance of the boys, and to the ; excellent terms apparently existing between .tli£jji ,and the staff.