INEBRIATES’ HOMES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20964, 1 March 1930, Page 9

INEBRIATES’ HOMES.

REDUCED NUMBER OF INMATES SALVATION ARMY EMBARRASSED. (Special to Daily Tikes.) AUCKLAND, February 28.' A marked falling off in the number of inebriates on Roto Roa and Pakaton, two islands in Hauraki. Gulf, where homes for habitual drunkards have been established by the Salvation Army, is a striking feature of recently compiled statistics! ihe communities there have so diminished that the Salvation Army is being caused financial embarrassment, and steps to effect some alteration in the organisation for dealing with these eases are at present being discussed. A visit was paid to Roto Roa Island by the Minister of Health (Mr A. J. Stalhvorthy), Mr R. P. Ward (Under-Secretary of Justice), Dr T. G. Gray (Director-General of Mental Hospitals), and Mr P. K. Hunt, S.iVL

The Minister stated subsequently that no decision had been reached in the matter. The position at the Roto Roa Home for men and the Pakatoa Home for women had become somewhat unsatisfactory from the point of view of the Salvation Army, which conducted the homes, and also for the Department of Health owing to a substantial reduction in the number of inmates. Whereas there used to he over 100 patients at Roto Roa, for some time past' there had been only 20. The position at Pakatoa was even more striking. The accommodation on that island for women inebriates allowed for 50 persons, but at present there wore only eight, and a short time ago only five.

“ Our visit to Roto Roa was preliminary to a plan for reconstruction,” said Mr Stalhvoreliy. “It is 'ffiiiously impossible to carry on as lias been done in the past.” Before reaching a decision the Minister will consult Commissioner John Cunningham of the Salvation Army.