Witnesses’ sacking denied

Press, 4 September 1982, Page 2

Witnesses’ sacking denied

PA Auckland Three witnesses at a Human Rights Commission inquiry into child abuse in Auckland welfare homes have been angered by suggestions that their evidence was a “gross distortion” of the truth. The three, who have all worked in Auckland Social Welfare homes, wanted to meet the Auckland regional director, Mr Robin Wilson, to discuss his comments about their evidence. The commission's report expressed concern about procedures in four Auckland homes, Bollard and Allendale girls’ homes, and the Owairaka and Wesleydale boys’ homes. The report followed complaints by the Auckland Committee on Racism and Discrimination (Acord). Acord’s spokesman, Dr Oliver Sutherland, said that three of his witnesses vyere upset by Mr Wilson’s comment that a number of people who gave evidence at the inquiry were former welfare home employees who had been sacked because they were unsuitable. Mr Wilson’s allegation that their evidence was a gross

distortion of the facts was also unacceptable, Dr Sutherland said. He denied that the three had been sacked. Mr Wilson said he was “pretty browned off with the whole thing” but he might meet the witnesses if he could establish their credibility. Commenting on a suggestion by a Labour spokesman, Mr G. W. R. Palmer, that welfare homes be closed and the children placed in foster, homes, Mr Wilson said he had never heard anything so silly. New Zealand already had about the highest rate of fostering in the world, and the new community care scheme had cut children's admissions to institutions 30 per cent. : Closing the, homes would land the Social Welfare Department with another 150 children to foster out. “Is.Mr Palmer suggesting we should place in someone’s private home, someone who has been arrested by the police for burglary, arson, assault, or perhaps murder? “These (homes) are remand institutions for quite serious offences,” Mr Wilson said.