FEWER DRUNKARDS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 51, 1 March 1930, Page 29

FEWER DRUNKARDS

SALVATION. AKMY PROBLEM

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post") * AUCKLAND, This Day. A marked falling-off in the number of inmates on Rota Roa and Pakatoa, the two islands in the Hauraki Gulf, where the homes for habitual drunkards have been established by the Salvation, Army, is a striking-feature of'the recently compiled statistics.. The communities there have so diminished that the Salvation Army is being caused financial embarrassment, and steps to obtain some alteration in the organisation for dealing with these cases are at present being discussed.' , A visit.was paid to Roto Roa Island by the Minister of Health; (the Hon. A. J. Stallworthy); Mr. R. P.-Ward, Under Secretary for Justice; Dr. T. G. Gray, Di-rector-General of Mental Hospitals, and Mr. F. X.Hunt, S.M.. . .".■.' The Minister stated subsequently that no decision had been reached in the matter. The position at the Roto Roa Home for Men, and Pakatoa Island Home for Women had become somewhat unsatisfactory from the point of view of the Salvation Army,- which conducted the homes, and also the Department, of Health, owing to the substantial reduction in the number of inmates. Whereas there used to be over 100 patients at Roto Roa, for some time past there had only been 20. The position at Pakatoa was even more striking. Accommodation on that island for women inebriates allowed for 60 persons, but at present there were only eight, and a short time ago only five.' " _ # "Our visit to Roto Koa was a preliminary .to a plan for reconstruction," said Mr Stallworthy. "It is obviously impossible to carry on as has been done in the past. Before reaching a decision the Minister will consult Commissioner J. Cunningham, of the Salvation Avmy.