ROTO-ROA REFORMED.

NZ Truth, Issue 405, 29 March 1913, Page 6

ROTO-ROA REFORMED.

An Ex-Inmate's Indignation.

How Patients are Provided for

the Institution.

Another unfortunate, who. has just been released from Roto-roa Island, where he has spent twelve months, writes as under to "Truth,"* prefacing his remarks with the pregnant prelude, "I could write for hours m reference to the inhuman treatment at, and the gross maladministration of, the institution:—

Since the visit of the Minister of Justice m December last, the number of men sent through the open court has decreased to such an extent that, if it were not for men self-committing themselves from the Prison 6ate- Home and other refuges, this home would be a thing of the past m a .very short time. Out of a total of 53 inmates, 23 are men who have asked to be sent here m open court and self-committed men who are there under section 7 of the Act. Men under this section are left entirely m the hands of the manager of this institution, the Minister of Justice having no jurisdiction over them whatever, and can, at the sweet will of the manager, be released at any time, which often happens after a man has been m detention two or three months. Most of these selfcommitted men are there for the second, third and fourth time, and commit themselves there to avoid work. These men are parasites and a menace to Society; and this institution is a dumping ground for loafers and criminals. It is a'> burden on the taxpayer, with no practical results for the money spent. Is this one Of Massey's "Square Deals" ? ; .*■ :

For good conduct and industry those coming under sections S and 9 of the Act are, supposed to get time off. Well, sir, my experience has been that the

more industrious and' well-behaved a man is, the longer he Is kept. It is only men who act as spies and; pimps for. the Army, who have any remission to • speak of. Men coming under section 7< are very proficient m these , two named qualities, for, the manager being able •to release them at any time, 'it pays these men to cringe and crawl to him for the sake of getting a big slice' taken off their time. For good conduct, the men under section 8 can get a month off their detention, but are very often' kept three and four days over the date of their discharge. Men are compelled^ to work who tho public think are only sent m to be built up and medically treated with tho view to euro them of the craving for drink; if a person does not feel inclined to do work that is not congenial to him, he Is taken to Auckland and charged with insubordination, and is sent to gaol, which has quite . recently happened m the caso of one of the inmates. Lot mo ask, sir, why should men be compelled , to work m the cultivation or tho land and other employment when tho products and fruits of their labor are sent to Auckland to swell the coffers of a religious brood of people who' are living m luxury and idleness m the white slavery of tho inmates of this institution? I wish to publicly state that my detention on the Island has injured my health considerably, for I am not nearly the man physically I wns before being sent to tho Island, and I, can vouch for others who are m tho same condition. As for curing me of drink, it has not done so, and never would If I were there for 20 years, for, whenever I feel disposed to have a drink. I will do so.