THE ORANGA HOME.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 63, 14 March 1908, Page 9

THE ORANGA HOME.

THE ENQUIRY CONTINUED. CLASSIFICATION OF INMATES URGED. [BT TELECBAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.} CHRISTCHURCH, 13th March. The enquiry into the management of the To Oranga Home was continued today by Mr. H. W. Bishop, Commissioner. William Recce stated that ho was appointed official visitor to the Homo by the Government ir> 1905. Mr. Russell :_ Is tliB Home fulfilling its purpose as a reformatory ? — To a largo extenu. Some improvements are necessary, as in the matter of classification The Government has been strongly recommended by the official visitors anc 1 tho matron to establish another class. Mr. Russell : Do the girls seem to he happy ? — Most certainly. Continuing, the witness stated that as far as he could judge the relations between the matron and staff were all that could be desired. As to the fitness of tho matron for her position, ho 'thought it would be very difficult to find any one who could carry on the \vork better. Mr. Russell : Are you in favour <rf xne present method o£ corporal punishment? — Generally speaking, 1 would like to see corporal punishment dispensod with. There are some instances in which it is absolutely necessary, in my opinion, but individuals differ so much that if there were other means I think it would be better to abolish flogging. Mr. Russell : You uon r t think there is any possibility of thrashing a girl of twenty into moral ways? — No. I think that inducements to good behaviour may be devised that will make corporal punishment unnecessary. • CLASSIFICATION. The Commissioner : What method ot classification would you suggest? — I should suggest three classes. All inmates on arrival to go into the middle class with the hope held out to' them of • getting into the highest class. Girls would be punished by being put down into the lowest class. The idea of three classes had been generally favoured." What about the girls that came into the Home in a state of disease ? — They would have to receive special treatment. Then you want a fourth class ? — Those girls are not fit to be inmates. Have you thought of tho problem presented by the girls who have shown no signs of" being reformed sufficiently to justify their being sent forth imong the community generally at the age of 21? — It is a difficult problem. I should deal with those cases on tho indeterminate sentence plan. They are sexual degenerates. I don't think society has settled that problem. The Commissioner : It is very difficult to impress on the department that expense should not bo the principal consideration in dealing withMhf) 'wards of the State. Ths Rev. F. R. Inwood, Anglican minister at Burwood, said that he visited the Home always once a week and sometimes twice. In his opinion the gii'ls were happy in the Home. Mr. Russell : Are you satisfied that the Home is doing good ? — I am, most decidedly. Christchurch should be proud of having a Homo like this in its midst. The Commissioner will agree with me tnat the girls who were turned out are not the girls they were when they came in. The Home has a humanising and refining influence on them. T n reply to Mr. Salter, the witness said that he considered strapping a more humane punishment than deprivation of food or confinement in the cells. Ho saw no hardship in hair-cutting. •There was neither sentiment nor hardship in it, and it kepi bad girls from absconding. On thac ground it was justifiable, and, indeed, praiseworthy. A DOCTOR'S EVIDENCE. Dr. Symes said that un till about two years ago ho was medfeal officer in charge of the Home. sis experience was that the children were generally very bright and cheerful. The matron had good methods, and was a kind and capable woman. "-He had always found the food supplied perfectly wholesome. The greater number of the girls improved morally and physically in the Home, but there were degenerates who could not bs improved. In his opinion corporal punishment should not be administered to girls over 18. Labour tasks, such as were set in female penitentiaries at Home, should be substituted. He did not, think that confinement in the cells was good for a girl's health. J It had impressed him that the girls in the Home had a feeling that they were outcasts from society, and a great deal j could be done by the ladies of Christchurch if they extended a little more kindly sympathy to them. This would put them in touch with the outer world, and give them some help and hope. As to the tree-felling, he entirely agreed with Dr. Moorbouse, that under proper supervision, with no lifting of really heavy weights, it would do nothing but good. In the c-se of distinct moral degenerates, there should be regulated physical labour. As to the hair-cutting, he agreed with Dr. Moorhouse that it was an excellent means of preventing girls from absconding. From a he'altn point of view, it v/as far better than shutting them up in cells. He expressed the opinion that it was a mistake to admit girls to the Home who were over sixteen. To effect reformation required more than 'two or three years. The Commissioner : What about discharging hopeless sexual degenerates at the age of twenty-one? — I think they should not be discharged. There should be some place provided for such cases. There are a good many Burnham boys who should not be discharged at tvtentyone. The enquiry was adjourned until Tuesday next.