THE ROTOROA CASE.

Waipa Post, Volume XXI, Issue 1339, 9 January 1923, Page 5

THE ROTOROA CASE.

STATEMENT BY SUPERINTENDENT.

Pat Sullivan, who was on Wednesday at Auckland sent meed to on j month's imprisonment on a (barge A Laving been insubordinate on Rotor'.a Island, was again brought before the Court on Saturday, when the superintendent of the Island asked for a rehearing.

Mr Poynton, S.M.: You ask for a rehearing, Major Macauley? The Superintendent: Yes, on various reasons. First, it is not our policy to punish men or send them to prison. We are anxious to keep them out of prison if we can get them to abide by the discipline of the island. Further, up to this instance, in fairness to the accused, Sullivan, I wish to say that his conduct was excellent and his work good, and we give him every chance to obey orders. I am rather inclined to think he is the victim of a little conspiracy on the part of two or three others who stir him up. For that reason I am anxious be should not be punished. However, the man made a statement in open court that I* was actually threatening men because of their faith and punishing them, and I cannot let a statement like that go by, because it is contrary to fact. If it were true, that 1 bad men on that island under my charge and made their lives a hell on earth, as Sullivan said, I would not be worthy of my position. On the other hand, I give every man a chance and no man is punished or penalised on account of his faith. I might say that I interviewed the accused in the cell this* morning and pointed out that the statement made in ordinary court was so foreign from fact and so grossly libellous that I wou'ld have to request him to make a statement before a magistrate on oath and so give me a chance to defend myself and defend the army. He quite freely admitted that he was wrong and withdrew the charge against me. and he promised if I took him back again to the island this afternoon his behaviour would be better. Under these conditions I would like to make an appeal. All I ask is discipline. It must be realised that if one or two men get up against discipline, then the whole structure collapses and the w.ork fails. In my opinion a little discipline and work is good for the average man—the hours are not long and the work is not hard. I would like, under these conditions, to make * an appeal for the accused. \

Mr Poynton, S.M.: The Major is very kind. Sullivan. He evidently bears no grudge against you for the statements made, and you should he grateful to him for his consideration. I am sure you will get much more pleasure down there —fishing in the sun and in general recreation, with a little easy work, than up at Mount Eden breaking stones. Sullivan: May I say one word before leaving the Court. 'Mr Poynton: I am afraid you should say very little. You are apparently inclined to make rash statements. However, you can make a statement if you wish to. Sullivan: In regard to my sentence —I was sentenced at Xapier to two years for breach of prohibition—after I had observed the order for 10?> months—a thing no magistrate had ever done before, to ray knowledge. It was a most unjust sentence, and it took me away from my work and made me a burden on the State instead of allowing me to earn my own living, as I was doing. Mr Poyuton: All right, Sullivan. yon can go now. The accused was Infer released into the care of the army officials to return to the island.