ESCAPE FROM ROTO-ROA.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1399, 4 September 1923, Page 8

ESCAPE FROM ROTO-ROA.

“FAMILY WAS STARVING.” AUCKLAND. Monday. “This man has been an absolute nuisance. He has not been amenable to discipline, and would not work,” said Major McCauley, ,of the Salvation Army, when John George Henry Blane (46) was charged to-day in the Police Court with escaping from the Roto-Roa Inebriates’ Home on February 14th. Continuing, the major said Blane had been “allowed to loaf about on the beach” because he had only one leg. This had been done : to see if he would behave when an appeal was made to his better nature. Despite his disability, however, Blane had escaped from the island, pulling an oar in an open boat for thirteen miles, and then making his way over rough country to the Main Trunk line. “I would like to say that I was sent to the island for two years, which I consider is a very long time for a married man,” said Blane. “I served one year, but I wanted to get away because my wife and family were receiving no compensation, and were half-starved all the time I was there. While on the island I received a summons for £7O or £BO for rent, and things were in a bad way. After escaping I earned £5 weekly as a paperhanger, but lately, owing to festered chilblains. I could not work.” Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M.: Inmates can’t be allowed to run away, you know! Accused: I have hot got drunk since I got away. If the major says I did not do any work on the island, he should remember that while I was there I hung 400 rolls of paper. It was because I had dependants, who were starving that I ran away. The magistrate said he would ad .ionrn the case for 12 months. If Blane drank and got into trouble he would be dealt with on this charge. The major had very kindly consented to take him back on the island, and Blane would have to remain there till October, when the warrant expired.