TE ORANGA HOME.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 45, 16 November 1907, Page 6

TE ORANGA HOME.

PUNISHMENT OF GIRLS. QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT. STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER. When the Houso of Representatives met yesterday . afternoon Mr. T. H. Davcy (Christchurch East) asked the Minister for Education if his attention had been called to the letter published in the papers over the signature of the Rev. F. P. Fcndall, Vicar of Rangiora, relating to tho treatment of two girls at the Te Oranga Homo, and whether an inquiry would be made. REPORT TO BE MADE. "Mv nttention has been called to the matter," replied the Minister, "and I have asked for a report from the managers of tho Homo." "The only portion of the , letter of which ho.had any knowledge was the cutting of tho hair. That was a form of punishment that was only allowed in exceptional cases, and must be sanctioned by tho Minister. At the present time thoro were two or three incorrigible girls who had given a good deal of trouble and had been addicted to running away, and the running away of girls from institutions of tho description of the To Oranga Homo was a serious matter. (Hear, hear.) Strong measures had therefore been taken. From tho evidence that had been submitted to him in these instances they seemed to be cases for that punishment. Regarding the question of further punishment, he had no information regarding it, but when he received such, information ho would bo in a position to givo an answer.

MEMBERS EMPHATIC. Mr. Laurenson said he hoped the Minister would see his way to inquire into the allegations mado. In rogard to tho cutting off of the girl's hair, he held that anything in the nature of a disfigurement by way or punishment should not bo allowed in tin institution. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. Hogg oppressed the opinion that ■ a full inquiry should be held into a matter of this kind. About two years ago two girls in Masterton were arrested, and tho police expressed to him their utter detestation with the kind'of work they had to perform. .These girls wore sent back to Christchurch, whero they had to work very hard at laundry work, for which they received no payment. They wore in good employment in Masterton, and would havo done well for themselves. Their omployers were exceedingly annoyed at their being taken away! The exhibition of. these girls being arrested and placed in carriages to bo conveyed back to Christchurch was a particularly deplorable one. Ho. felt there was a necessity for >\ full investigation as to the way thoso homes were managed, and for tho purpose of ascertaining tho reason why they left these homes, whero they.wero treated virtually as slaves.

Mr. Ell said ho had heard complaints about this home from other people. He referred to.a case in which a "black maria" with a policoman in -uniform had been employed to take a girl back to tho home. He' had heard such complaints regarding tho severity of the discipline and the extromo severity of the discipline and policy pursued that ■ hel thought an inquiry necessary. It might be necessary for tho sake of cloanliness to removo a girl's hair or to cut :'t short, but it was an abominable thing to have the hair cut off as a punishment. It savoured of Russian methods instead of tho methods of a civilised country. Ho hoped the inquiry would bo as soon ns possible.