AGED NEEDY HOME ENQUIRY. THE COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.

Evening Post, Volume LIII, Issue 114, 15 May 1897, Page 5

AGED NEEDY HOME ENQUIRY. THE COMMISSIONER'S REPORT.

SOME 01? THE CHARGES PROVED. I GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF THE HOME GOOD. The findings of tbe Commissioner (Mr. H Eyre-Kenny) on the charges preferred by the Rev. H, Van Staveren against the management of the Home for the Aged Needy, which formed the subject of a recent enquiry, are as follows :— Chabge I.— Skimmed and Sous Milk. I am of opinion that there is nothing in this charge. [The allegation was that skimmed and sometimes sour milk was given to the inmates.] It is proved that the milk is and has been supplied for some time twice a day— two gallons at each time. The first two gallons is never skimmed at all The second two gallons, which comes in the afternoon, is dealt with thus :— A portion is used for tea unskimmed In llie summer, what remains of the milk is scalded. It stands in the pans until the morning. It is then skimmed, and the cream taken from it. This is done for two purposes — to utilise the cream, and because i£ the inmates saw the cream swimming about on the surface it would give a bad appearance to the milk. The skimmed milk is used with porridge and for bread and milk. The medical evidence shows that for many old persons, especially if diabetic, skimmed milk is more wholesome than unskimmed. The cream is used in the summer for salad dressing. In the winter it it shaken up in a wide-necked fruit botile and butter produced. The quantity of cream is so small that sometimes it is a week or ten days before there is sufficient to make butter of. The butter thus produced is very inferior to the butter from the store, and, such as it is, is used for the benefit of the inmates at the Home. Occasionally it is used for cakes, when there is a concert or other entertainment in' the evening. As to the latter part of the charge, I do not consider that it has been proved that milk issued to the patients was " frequently in a sour state."' This may have been the case on some rare occasions, but these accidents will occur even in • n well-ordered private establishment in certain states of the weather. Chabge 2.— Assaulting Hbs. Pobd. I consider that it is proved that Mrs. Ford used provoking and impertinent language to Mrs. Short on the occasion in question, that Mrs. Short lost her temper and seized Mrs. Ford by the shawl round her neck, forcibly compressing her throat and shaking her, and that she gave Mrs. Ford several slaps on the back with her disengaged hand. I do not agree with the resolution in the minutes of the Trustees that this was an assault of " a very trifling character." In my opinion it had serious elements. No amount of provocation could justify or excuse Mrs. Short in her position as Matron of the establishment for assaulting one of the inmates, and, in this instance, the condition of health of Mrs. Ford was sueh — she had heart disease, and was paralysed on one side— that Mrs. t Short's conduct might have occasioned a serious illness, or even have cost the inmate her life. I think that the Trustees ought to have reprimanded Mrs. Short far more severely than they did, and that the\ r should have warned her that a repetition of such conduct would be followed by immediate dismissal. As to the latter part of this charge, it has been proved conclusively by the evidence of Bridget O'Leary, the servant of the institution, that she supplied a cup of tea to Mrs. Ford in the morning on her own responsibility and without authority from Mr. and Mrs. Short, and that she discontinued l the cup of tea, also entirely on her own motion, after the assault, because she thought trouble was beginning, and she did not wish to be mixed up in it. Chabge 3.— Hewlett's Case. I consider that this charge [that Kewley was required^to do work which he was physically unfitted to perform] has been disproved. Chabge 4.— Louisa Wilson's Case. In my opinion this charge [frequent illtreatment of Miss Wilson] was broken down altogether by the evidence. Chabge s—Me.5 — Me. and Mbs. Donohue. After carefully considering the evidence in this case [which alleged, that Mr. and Mrs. Donohue had left the Home in consequence of harsh treatment] I must acquit Mr and Mrs. Short on this charge also. Donohue, who had been a colour-sergeant in the 55th Regiment, was an excellent, well-conducted, useful man when sober , but a little drink affected him, and in that condition he became abusive and insolent. Mr Short showed considerable forbearance, in my opinion, in this case. Mrs Donohue wanted to cook all sorts of provisions on her own account in the kitchen at odd hours, and this at a time when she was on a special dipt for diabetes. She was very properly forbidden to do this. She left the Home because her husband wished to do so — to use her own words, "I never left this Home with my consent." Mr. Donohue apparently left because Mr. Short found it necessary to reprove him for his misconduct when in liquor. It was proved that this man bad been in the Lunatic Asylum. The case was not proved as regards " other inmates." . Chabge 6. — Bland's Case. This Bland was evidently a drunken, illconditioned fellow, who was a nuisance to the Home. On the occasion in question Bland came into the men's sitting-room in a state of drunkenness, and used very offensive language to some of the inmates. Mr. Short, as he was bound to do, removed Blaud by force to his (Bland's) room, locked him in, and took away his matches. The evidence shows that Mr. Short used no more violence than he was obliged to do. Chabge 7. — Balchin's Case. I find that soup was £iven to Balchin almost every day, and that he always had it when he asked for it. I do not think that the evidence as a whole leads to the conclusion that Balchin was ever refused a fire when it would have been reasonable or right for him to have one. It is quite possible that there may have been occasions when a fire would have been a comfort to this poor man, but when it would have been also, owing to the temperature, a source of annoyance to the other inmates. Still, perhaps, a sick man should have been considered first. I cannot quite resist the impression that there was a certain amount of harshness and want of sympathy in Mr. and Mrs. Short's manner to both Mr. and Mrs. Balchin ; and manner in such a case goes for a great deal. But I must acquit Mr. and Mrs. Short of any conscious cruelty to these persons. It would probably have been prudent to have sent Mr. Balchin to the Hospital at an earlier date, and herein, I think, lies Mr. Short's main error, if any error there was. Chabge B.— Thbeats to Complainants. This charge has not, in my opiniou, been sustained. I think, on the contrary, that every reasonable facility was given by Mr. and Mrs. Short to the inmates when they desired to complain to the Board of Trustees, and that no attempt was made to deter them from doing so. Chabge 9.— Fires Refused. I think there was some evidence to show that fires wore refused in both the women's and the men's sitting-room, especially the latter, upon occasions when, having regard to the age and infirmity of many of the inmates, fires should bave;been lighted. But I do not desire to impute any great amount of blame to Mr. Short on this account. At the most, it was an error of judgment. He had

two tilings to consider: economy, and tbe wishes of the inmates as a whole ; and on some occasions when a fire was asked for there can be no doubt that some of tho inmates would have objected. It would, I venture to suggest, relieve the Superintendent of the Home from a great difficulty if reliable thermometers were placed iv the men's and women's sitting-rooms, and if, after consulting the medical officers, fires were lighted invariably when the temperature fell to a certain point to be fixed by the medical officers, regard being also had to the humidity of the atmosphere. Chabge 10. — Mbs. Habdwick's Case. 1 think that Mr. Short behaved with unnecessary austerity and abruptness to Mrs. Hardwick, and that he might have done what he did in a more courteous way; especially as Mrs. Hardwick's visitor was present. Chabge 11.— Meek's Case. In my opinion, nothing amounting' to actual cruelty towards Meek- has been proved against Mr. Short, The Superintendent is of course bound to keep up discipline and to see that the rules are obeyed ; but possibly in this, as in some other instances, Mr Short might have exhibited a little more of the sauvUer in modo in his procedure. Chabge 12. — Religious Intebfebence. This charge has been completely rebutted. Indeed, the services conducted by Mr. Short, on. which it is attempted to found it, were discontinued as far back as 1894, and it is not proved that at any time any attempt was made to influence the inmates in aq improper way. Chabge 13. — Rude Behatioub to the Inmates. ' I am decidedly of opinion that it has been proved that there was and is a general want of sympathy and tact in the demeanour ol Mr. and Mrs. Short towards the inmates It is no doubt quite true, as Dr. MacGregoi suggests, that the inmates of this Home, many'of whom are in a state of senile decay, are necessarily querulous and unreasonable in their demands and complaints. They are, in fact— that is, some of them — in their second childhood, and no doubt, like children, they are sufficiently trying at times. But no judicious or right-thinking parent or schoolmaster, in these days at least, would treat a child in a harsh, repellent manner merely because it was capricious, and no doubt the Superintendent and Matron of the institution I am speaking of ought not only to exercise forbearance and self-com-maud in their dealings with the inmates, but. they should indicate by a genial, cordial, and courteous manner the S3Tnpathy and interest nvhich they ought to feel in them. At the same time this may be a "counsel of perfection." You cannotget everything. If you get a Master and a Matron who are methodical, economical, vigilant, and good maintainers of discipline, you can hardly expect to find them overflowing with the milk of human kindness as well. On the other hand, you may get a Superintendent and Matron who are gentle and sympathetic in manner, but unfit on other grounds for the control of such an institution as this. Upon the whole, I am afraid that we must look first for qualities of what I may call a business sort in the Superintendent and Matron, and that if, in addition to these, they are just and fair in their treatment of the inmate 3, and not guilty of actual harshness or cruelty in deed, asperity in 1 word and manner will to a certain extent have to be condoned. Ido not wish to be misunderstood. O£ course it is the duty, as it ought to be the pleasure, of the Superintendent and Matron to act towards the inmates in a kind and considerate manner, and proved instances of rudeness and want of courtesy that may come to the knowledge of the governing body ought to be followed by a reprimand. In short, everything should be done to impress upon the Superintendent and Matron the expediency of their showing the inmates that it is their desire to make them comfortable, happy, and contented in mind as well as in body. Chabge 14.— Rudeness to Mbs* Richabdson. It is proved that Mr. Short was guilty, on the occasion in question, of gross rudeness to this lady, who was, moreover, at the time, one of the subscribers to the institution. For Mr. Short's conduct, I regret to say, I can find no excuse or palliation. His behaviour to Mrs. Richardson confirms the impression I had received from the other evidence as to his overbearing demeanour, at times, towards the inmates. I was, moreover, very dissatisfied with the manner in which Mr. Short gave his evidence in answer to this charge. He did not seem at all to realise the impropriety of his conduct. ! I must say, too, it seems to me that the j governing body treated Mrs. Richardson's complaint far too lightly. Mr. Short should have been severely reprimanded, and compelled to furnish a written apology to Mrs. I Richardson, It is monstrous that a subscriber, and especially a lady subscriber, should be treated m the way Mrs. Richardson was by the Superintendent of the institution which she is helping to maintain. If Mrs. Richardson was doing anything that was against the rules it should have been pointed out to her firmly, but quietlyand courteously, and, if necessary, the matter could have been reported to the Trustees. I regret that lam obliged.to speak so strongly, but Mr. Short's defiant demeanour in the witness-box leaves me no resource. It is to be hoped that Mr. Short will take warning by what has happened, and that visitors to this excellent institution who may inadvertently transgress one of the rules may not be subjected to scoldings like that administered to Mrs. Richardson. General Management of the Home. As to the general management of the Home for Aged Needy, I have nothing but good to say. It is undoubtedly one, of the best, if not the very best institution of the kind in the colony. The building is admirably situated. It is handsome, commodious, and cheerful. It and the offices and outbuildings are kept scrupulously clean. The discipline is good. It' is methodically and economically mananged. The dietary is generous in quantity and good in quality. There is nothing of the pauper element or the poorhouse in the place or its surroundings. The arrangements for the medical treatment of the inmates when necessary seem to be good. Medical comforts are supplied if ordered. There are about four acres of ground around the buildings. The institution produces all 1 its own vegetables except potatoes. Rhubarb is also grown, and pigs and poultry are kept. Those of the inmates who are able attend to the garden and the live stock. The women take a certain share of the work in the building itself. The management of the institution undoubtedly reflects the utmost credit upon the Trustees, who are, as a body and individually, taking a keen and active interest in it, and also upon Mr. and Mrs. Short, who have been in charge for five years and nine months. As Mr. Van Staveren has proved some oE his charges wholly, and some partially, and as the enquiry will tend to satisfy the minds of the subscribers, and of the public generally, which had been undoubtedly disturbed and excited by exaggerated rumours and reports as to recent occurrences at the institution, Ido not feel constrained to make an order for costs.