ROTO ROA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10683, 1 February 1913, Page 1

ROTO ROA.

HAURAKi GULF, (By ALD.) [All Rights Reserved.! A certain amount of interest is attracted at tho present moment to the institutions carried om under tho management of the Salvation Army in connection with homes for inebriates. These homes are situated in the Hauraki Gulf, about thirty miles from Auckland, on the island of Roto Roa and Pakatoa. Both these Islands were purchased some- years back by the Salvation Army, with a view to the establishment of homes for the reception and cure of persons suffering from dipsomania and for those found by the Courts to be habitual inebriates. The experiment was practically the first cf its kind, and has been iii practice some half-dozen years. At the present moment the management an<l foundations of the institutions com© somewhat- under review, as there are indications that the present Government may intervene to alter the principles upon which they rest. The present institutions are subsidised by the Government to the extent of 10s a week per head for the' maintenance of the individuals committed there. It is now argued that as many of these are committed thither from the Courts, and are virtually prison-

ers, they should be wholly under State control and the institutions should bo ruled by Government officials rather than by those of the Salvation Army. Tho Minister of Justice, the Hon A. L. Herdman,. has quite recently visited the islands, with a view to becoming personally acquainted with tho subject, and although he has given no definite expression of opinion, there are indications that he favours some change in the direction of supporting the principle that State prisoners should be governed by tho State. To some persons it may a very great pity should any considerable change take place in the management which has been so successfully carried on. A very difficult question appears to have been solved by tho institution as it at present stands, and it may be doubted whether an improvement would be effected by pressing the position of the inmates being " prisoners " rather than " patients." It "is natural that when such persons improve in health and spirits owing to their enforced seclusion and abstinence, recovering themselves, they begin to wish to return to the ways of the world. Resenting their seclusion, they look around for subjects of complaint and endeavour to make themselves heard in various ways. . Although secluded and generally committed from the Courts, the inmates still enjoy the privilege of the franchise. There were over one hundred to vote at the last election, and there was as much interest and excitement as in any town. It must be very doubtful whether persons admittedly suffering from nerves, mental and physical troubles, excitement, worry, overwork, etc., resulting in a loss of self-control, should be encouraged to engage in anything so exciting as a general election. The effect was I found to be detrimental to order and control. Very liberal conditions at present prevail. The two islands, Roto lloa for men, and Pakatoa for women, are some miles apart. There are generally over 120 persons 011 Roto Roa and about thirty on Pakatoa. Tho scenery and surroundings axe most charming. Each island is about four miles in length and about two in breadth, diversified by hills and dales, charming bays, creeks and inlets, valleys where patches of bush still'remain'and rocks covered with oysters. There is plenty of deep sea fishing off the shores. The inmates are told off to certain necessary work j parties dailv go off to fish, gather wood, etc., and others engage in housework, gardening, the care of poultry and cows, in lawn mowing or landscape gardening. - In the evening they gather in the common room for debates, lectures, and so forth. Every one may practise his hobby whatever it may be, and is sure to find sympathetic sharers. For the artist it must be a paradise. Those who sing are in demand at concerts, and the musical may he always employed, although the - sphere is somewhat limited; wonderful instruments aro in requisition for the brass band. , All kinds and classes' of persons are represented; the cobbler is always busy, the butcher is ; indispensable, the .doctor gives medical advice and care, the lawyer advises upon change and constitution, the man of business advises upon economy,. the .farmer gives practical assistance .and-'.the. market gardener produces marvellous results; the carpenter is one of the most useful. A sports committee arranges -programmes for Saturdays and Wednesdays, and there is a tremendous interest shown in every kind of sport. Croquet and tennis are very favourite amusements, and tournaments are arranged. The food is excellent and plentiful. Quantities of fish arje-caught daily to supply, tho whole settlement, and beau- . tifully cooked. Milk, eggs-and vegetables are produced in great quantities, and the ;best of everything is served, tilery being six meals a day—breakfast, morning tea, dinner, afternoon tea, tea and supper. It is indeed a paradise for the fortunate inmates. The rooms are exquisitely clean, and the beds fresh with sheets, pillow-cases and counterpanes. There are several buildings, one verylarge barracks, divided into many small rooms, a large dining-room and hall or common room, wherein a., huge fire is built in winter-time. Wood is somewhat scarce, and has to be fetched in scows from'a neighbouring island, parties being told off for the work. Many of the bedrooms are occupied by two or three persons, single rooms being the reward of conduct. The old homestead which belonged to former owners is utilised as a superior boarding-house, which is occupied by private patients or by those who care to pay for this privilege. The food, however, is the same in all departments. Persons pay from £1 to 80s per week in this boarding-house, which carries privacy and cert&.'n privileges, and enables those who have been accustomed to luxury to be suitably provided. To commit any person to this institution, it is necessary to obtain a warrant of arrest and to produce ample evidence of doctors and witnesses of the necessity of so disposing of a patient who 1 cannot otherwise be controlled. Per- j sons may be also committed from the j Courts after three convictions for j drunkenness. The former method is 1 suitable for dealing with those persons | whose relatives find it impossible to control and keep from danger to them- | selves and others, affording, a possible i means of preventing the lamentable results which so often follow upon the freedom of irresponsible individuals frenzied and demoralised by drink and

drugs. In this possibility lies the greatest usefulness of the present law and of the institution prepared to receive the individual. The hurry and bustle of the present clay, and the keen competition involved, produces a large number of individuals suffering from nerves, overwork; anxiety, insomnia, etc. These are tempted to fly to drink and drugs to cure their ills. Hereditary tendencies or a weak will supervene, and a loss of self-control follows. Treatment may possibly restore and it is to treatment alone that we can look for any hope for the individual. Hope, kindness, rest, employment, happiness, sunshine, play, and, above all, good food are the requisites, with a total abstinence from the exciting cause. How is all this to be obtained except in some institution such as that arranged by the Salvation Army? It is necessary to invoke the law, as the patients cannot otherwise be controlled, and very seldom can be induced to make a voluntary disposal of him or herself, a method which the present ; law permits. _ , i Such a person committed to a lunatic asylum is almost certain to lose his sanity from association and depression. He is not insane, and when he recovers from the effects of the poison _ from which he is suffering will lose himself in the horror of his surroundings. Tho same effects may follow upon his being committed to an ordinary prison and condemned to associate with criminals. Weakened in mind and body by his excesses, depression and association defray his moral timbre. Probably apart . from drink and drugs he is the best of men, with a perfect horror of crime I and a detestation of criminals. He is also at a loss, as probably memory fails to recall even the circumstances I 'which have placed him in his present position. Nothing is served by impressing upon hiru that ho is a prisoner: he is rather

iv patient for whoso recovery every means is to be taken. Sir John Findlay does not receive all the credit which-is,due to him for his work in the lato Government in connection with the disposal of criminal with a view to uplifting and preventing further degradation and of making a useful disposal of their strength. It is to bo sincerely hoped that thf present Government, in tlie desire for change, may not suffer any remission of rfforts mndo in this direction, and will consider long and carefully before making changes, especially in connection with the present arrangements for the Inebriates' Homes. It must be remembered that complaints probably emanate from active brains, with very little t-o occupy them, and are often the resull of " notoriety at any price." The work undertaken by the Snlvation Army has been and is very difficult. It is difficult' also to obtain reliable evidence, as the patients are naturally always anxious to escape and get into the world again, and their relatives do not like to bring themselves ■it their people into notoriety. One has but to watch a few individual enepe; ronlise the work being done. I have before me that of a young man belonging to a most respectable and* blameless family. He is very well educated and writes excellent letters. His intentions are of the very best. He is kind-hearted, spirited, energetic, a true Briton, and should be one of our best citizens. He is a fine, strong, apparently healthy young man of twentyseven or thereabouts. His relatives were compelled to send him to Roto !loa. There he was active, bright, conoccupied with the affairs of the community. Some evil influence prevailed—he contrived an escape by boat, just such an adventure as one would expect of such a person. Ho was re'•ommitted and was very well, behaved during a second erm. His time ran •jut.

He worked well in freedom for three weeks, , then had a violent spree, and 2 it took a bicycle belonging to someone else. He has 'been now sent to gaol for a month. What will become of him? His resolutions, his intentions for his life are excellent md his talents . and energy should make him useful, but he cannot live where there is anything alcoholic to bd obtained. He then becomes a criminal. It is a very great mistake to send already hardened criminals to the island. They exercise a very evil influence and complicate the management of affairs. Nearly all dissensions and mischief ca.n be traced to mistakes of this kind. Some other institution, such as the Waiatapu prison camp, should be utilised Roto Roa .should be maintained as a home for inebriates only and all the arrangements made accord iugly. Magistrates should exercise the utmost discretion in sending individual* , there. It is all the more necessary to suitably maintain these homes and keep up their standard, that.the--mental hospitals are ar* .nitted to be overcrowded and to require better arrangements Prevention is; better than cure. Manyof those who may completely recover under the considerate and sensible treatment they, now receive would undoubtedly drift into mental hospitals il neglected or otherwise disposed. Take the case of an elderly gentleman who liai> suffered from the overstrain of business/and who has always in private life been accustomed to a comfortable stalidard of living. He is perhaps sixty years of age; his system is shaken and his brain softened by secret indulgence in drink. He has become an irresponsible being. His family, who owe everything to his efforts, have no wish but for his welfare. - They know that he must be kept irom any alcoholic liquors. He. is detei mined upon that subject and by a kind of instinct turns into every hotel oi chemist shop for drugs. They employ every means to prevent him, without success. Prohibition orders are quite useless; his secret friends provide him, or he travels to another district. His wife or daughters try to guard him without success. Roto Roa comes to their relief. There they know him eafe, comfortable, well attended, well eared for, with the hope and prorrise that rest, fresh air, sunshine, good food and companionship may corrpletelv restore him. What else can they do vith him? What else happens? He is found dead by the roadside, carried off by the police, or falls into the river or over the wharf, and the whole family is exposed to the most unpleasant publicity. So much is done for everyone in" the present day, but for such an one (and such cases are numerous) an establish-ment-such as Roto Roa is the only assistance. _ The mental hospital, the hospital, ! the prison do not meet the case. I Private institutions such as that on ! Roto Roii might flourish, as doubtless j more people would pay for the main- i tenance of their relatives, and. some al- | ready dp so, but the power of the law would be necessary to commit and keep them there. Otherwise the effort would be as useless as all other means hitherto tried. The advantage of an island ■is that patients can enjoy complete free- ! dom and are not subjected to annoying | restraints and constant supervision. ' They can take long walks and forget that they are under raiy restraint whatever, while their guardians also are saved anxiety as to their whereabouts.