TE ORANGA HOME ENQUIRY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxix, Issue 7457, 8 April 1908, Page 3

TE ORANGA HOME ENQUIRY.

THE COMMISSIONER'S REPORT,

Per Press* Association.

WELLINGTON, April 8. The report of the Commissioner (Mr S.M.) appointed to enquire to ceeitfain matters connected with Te (O'rahga "Home has been received. The ■Commissioner states that, owing 'to Hack of sufficient and suitable accommodation, the girls had been dealt with in two classes, the better girls feeing put in the first class, and the :more troublesome girls in the second. JHe says that the difficulties of management under the present system are almost overpowering, and must often strain the patience and temper of the attendants to breaking-^oint, especially as the inmates consist of girls of all ages, many of them haying been hardened and corrupted by indulgence in all forms of vice.. However, the additions about to be made to the Home will improve* the whole system, and enable the manageress to so deal (by way of classification) with certain girls as to do away entirely with a great deal of the punishment that she feels called upon at present to inflict to ensure proper discipline. The Commissioner finds fault with the manageress for the way in which she kept, her register of punishments, and expresses himself opposed to the use of the strap on young women. The assertion that it would be impossible to run the institution at all if corporal punishment were abolished, he regards as a serious jtdjnission of weakness. He thinks that corporal punishment should be entirely abolished at Te Oranga, but if the Department is not prepared to go that length, then it should be used on-tho authority of the Department and under medical approval. He comments 5n terms of approval on the staff and their relations with the manageress, and concludes: "I can imagine no greater incentive to reform in the case of most of these young people than the fear of indeterminate detention. I believe it would do more to help forward the work of reformatories than anything else." DUNEDIN, April 8. The Hon. G. Fowlds, interviewed respecting the finding of the Commission on the management of the Te Oranga Home, said he was surprised and pleased that- so little had been dis•covered calling for adverse comment. ' The management that can produce such results from the material described by the Commissioner must stand approved la ihe judgment of all right-minded and unbiassed people.