TE ORANGA HOME.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 169, 10 April 1908, Page 5

TE ORANGA HOME.

. .. 'SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION. EXPLANATION BY MR. SMAIL. (BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.) , Christchurch, April 9. After the To Oranga report had come to hand Mr. T. I. Sniail was asked by a " Times reporter'if he would explain the system of classification dealt. with in his evidence and referred to by Mr. Bishop. Mr. Smail said that there could bo.no doubt that tho first step in reformatory work was to make it quite clear to a girl on 'arrival in the- Homo that it had not been founded as a place to punish her if she was prepared to. do bettor. It was a place Where every effort .would be made to fit her for a bright and puro life. That branch of the reformatory must be treated by tho Department in "no niggardly way. It was there that the real start in 'reformation must take place.' The girl should be treated so that,she should' bo shown that she had como amongst friends who knew the temptations and difficulties she had had to. contend with. Of course, all girls—good, bad,'and indifferent — must first have an opportunity in that "receiving class. Some w-ould not at first be amonabl'3 to perstlasiou.. Thero was -no doubt, however, that a largo number would yield to sympathetic treatment. It must always be understood that girls coming at first amongst complete strangers were glad of. any kindly interest taken in \them. That led .to the necessity for tho most suitable lady being placed in charge of that class under tho matron. She would have to bo a woman whose wholo'heart went out to girls, ono who would not easily be played upon, but would l be strong enough to deal firmly with tho most trying cases. The general public had no idea of the character of somo of the girls who were handed over to' the caro. of , tho Home. There ■ must ,be sub--1 divisions. It wo did be necessary to tho girls along in responso to every forward, step. It would be wise to keep a v girl who on arrival required medical treatment in-that class until she was quito' well. . She would then go into the next class. ' ' . In regard to the incorrigibles, said Mr. Sniail, they would be in the/lowest, class. If legislation were introduced and' power were given to detain a girl , after sho was 21 years of; age,, the fact tlfat she knew the power ' existed would ■be a, deterrent,. It would be heartbreaking to turn out. at 21' a girl everyone Knew had no idea of anything above a life" of' shame. It would more heartbreaking to know that tho .girl would have to appear before a .Magistrate's Court six times boforo • she became an habitual offender, and canio junder the Act of 1907. The misery, that'beset a young girl when she had started life in'a'brothel could not bo understood by people, who, fortunately, were riot awaro of ! such surroundings. She was a means of introducing that life to other young girls, and tho': end was absolute destruction. " He , hoped that after . the. completeness with which the Commissioner had ■. dealt with, tho matter, Parliament would not hesitate to carry out what Mr. Bishop strongly .recommended. As to the remaining two classes, they'.would fulfil their mission as .stepping-stones- to the girl ultimately leaving the Homo to.start a bright,, useful, and happy life... , ' Ho was pleased to say, from his own knowledges, that splendid results had rewarded tho efforts' of the manager and. staff of the Home. -If the general public*.had more knowledge, of the-trying nature of tho work they would accord, the officers, much more symnathy: and. would giro them much more kindly help. There were girls about'to-day, .and .nobody seeing them now lyould believe that it had ever been necessary • to keep them under restraint/ These" girls could not speak .too-woll-'of the . Home :and. the staff. ■ _ ' .(NEWSPAPER COMMENTS. Auckland, April 9. . The " Herald " scathingly :,comments , upon the' ; finding of tho Commission- " oil To Oranga Home case, and, in the course of a loading article, makes a. straight-out* demand for a chango of management. After , fairly fully,,wit-Ji .tile princiDal features, of the report, the journal.saysWe have no desire to make any Iscapegoat, or'io. blame any individual, but 1 it cannot bo. denied that tho institution lias been'managed in an archaic manner, and. that ''Ministers and Depart-, mental officials-,who:knew-better,;have cany lessly and negligently allowed''themselves to drift into the position'of endorsing and supporting an antiquated and thereforo objectionablo .system. IWo aro .told that ,with better classification the necessity for dogging' arid haircutt.injv girls who are old .enough to be, wives and mothers'will no longer exist.Wo trust that with; classification tfbo irregular use.of tho cell,' tho use of the punishment 1 dress, the boxing _of ears, the slapping,, and the sacrificing of girls' interests to managerial dignity will also bo found unnecessary,. for, bad as girls may be, the number who apparently reform, when, amid many shortcomings, they grow to womanhood,. decently v houscd, and sufficiently"fed, and shut in from temptation, shoald teach lis that surroundings have more to.do with conduct thaii .is 'generally admitted, and,.in any case,'it is not creditable to the State that an institution of this character should apparently have como down from tho time when women were whipped in Bridewell at the will of their keepers, and when those who fell under the. ban of the law had no rights and no protection, and to tho Minister for . Education <fto would suggest that, whenever tho management of a Homo claims that human suffering and human misery, pain, and ; shame, and degradation are necessary for discipline, it is time not to agreo and. to consent to methods which shock tho modern conscience, but to ■ look around for somo new'' management which will apply, mothods mor£ in accordance with modern ideas." .: