TE ORANGA HOME INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 69, 20 March 1908, Page 3

TE ORANGA HOME INQUIRY.

AN AUCKLAND WITXESS. ADVOCATES CORPORAL PUNISHMENT. (By Telegraph.—rress Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. The inquiry into the management of the Te Oranga Home was continued by ilr. U. W. Bishop, Commissioner, today. George King stated that for 30 years he had resided in the vicinity of the home. He had visited the institution frequently, and saw how things were done. He stated without hesitation that Mrs. Branting was carrying out her duties remarkably well. They had from 40 to 50 girls at Te Oranga at work in the grounds, but in his opinion there was not sufficient work about the place to kepp a man fully employed. Sarah E. Jackson, manager of the Auckland Industrial School for 25 years, said that there were 100 girls on the roll of the institution of which she had charge, and their ages ranged from nine months to nearly 20 years. She thought that there must be some form of corrective discipline, as the inmates were not morally balanced in mind. Some could not be reached by affection, and consequently had to be corrected in some way. She had very little experience with incorrigible girls, as when a girl showed a decided inclination to rebel she was sent to the Te Oranga Home. Corporal punishment would be a good thing to strengthen the administration if a girl absconded and took other girls away. The matron erred on the side of leniency. Witness did not think that chopping wood was at all hard on the girls.

To Mr. Slater: She had J.o do with young girls in Auckland, and she seldom administered the maximum number of strokes provided in the regulations. "Witness produced the punisruhent list for February, which showed the number of strokes varied from two to five. She preferred to punish the girls themselves. She did not disapprove of hair-cutting, because if the girls absconded the police would be better able to trace them, and anything that tended towards keeping them in the home should be done.

To the Commissioner: She would admit that there was very little analogy between the homo she managed in Auckland and Te Oranga Putting aside incorrigible girls, the effect of the Commission was that it created a feeling of unrest among the inmates.

Frederick Phillips Kendall admitted writing a letter to a local paper in regard to the home. The only information he had was that supplied by a pirl who had born in the institution. He never intended when he wrote the letter to cast a reflention on Mrs. Branting. The Department made the regulations, and they were responsible.

Mr. Russell: You say this home is run on lines of inhiimanitv anil barbarity?

Witness: Well, a girl of 19 or 20 had hor hair cut off, and was lushed practically on hor bare back. Wi/.iess thought the punishment was barbarous.

Harriet Pciremcnt. matron of the Caversham Industrial School, said that she agreed that corporal punishment should administered. As n last resourrc. she h.id to strap a girl for misbehaviour and not tolling the truth. Since then the girl had improved preatlv. Witness did not like strapping pirls. but she would give the maximum amount if necessary.

.Mrs. Vave, an official visitor, stated that she had found the girls and matron to be on the best of terms. Phfi had never seen girls MifTering from the after effects nf punishment. The pirls did not seem to show physical distress on returning from work. The matron carried out tho dietary scale, nnd the girls had ample clothing. The matron wanted (he girl from the Samaritan Ilnme in order to have her under supervision for a fortnignt. Witne-s knew of if- situation the girl intended taking, and she did not consider it suitable, as she would be without supervision nt time*. Thorp was absolute neees.-ily i\, r better classification, and if this were attended to there would not bi> so much need for corporal punishment. The Commission adjourned till to-mor-row.