BURNHAM INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14167, 15 September 1906, Page 9

BURNHAM INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.

> — ■ THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. The Burnham Inquiry was resumed yesterday morning, before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., Commissioner. Patrick'Crowley, formerly attendant at Burnham, gave details of his duties and working times. On the night Faithful was brought back, Mr Archey was in a lively mood. He was under thS" influence of drink, but was not drunk. That was the sole occasion witness had seen him under the influence. Boys who were weak were not singled out for punishment. The clerk and witness wore not' on good ternis. He had no cause of complaint against the manager or matron. • Mr Archey always acted well towards him. Mr Archey treated the boys very humanely, and the matron was attentive. Frederick W. Sandford, manual instructor for the Board of, Education, said ho had a class of twenty picked boys ©very Friday. He taught the boys woodwork, and he thought it of practical use to the Burnham boys, who ranged from eleven to eighteen years old. He stayed in the manager’s house, and had never seen him under the influence of liquor, and gave the allegation all emphatic denial. Some of the attendants had no interest in their work, and did not consider the temperaments of the boys. The men should have some training. Some of the boys should not havebeen sent to Burnham., A system of rewards would be good, such as a Cadet corps and shooting gallery. It would be an influence for good, and perhaps prevent absconding. Incorrigible boys should bo sent to a training ship. He thought corporal punishment a good corrective. There had been dissatisfaction among the officer®, which had a bad effect on the • boys. He had advised some to resign. The matron appeared efficient and humane, and had a strict sense of duty. A captain of a training ship would not be Influenced by irresponsible scribblers in the Press. 'Witness knew Colonel Loveday was in favour of a Cadet corps. There are difficulties in attaching such a corps to the battalion. A farm would not be ns good as a training ship. Farmers harboured the boys and used their labour. Witness thought it a good site for the school and not too far from town.

Thomas Crook, bookseller, said he had known Burnham for a long time. He had been at Burnham about six times within two years, for two or three days at a time,, and stayed at the manager’s house. Ho spent a month at Quail Island. Ho went to give instruction with the microscope, etc. Ho had had experience of a ragged school in 1845, and there found that kindness was effective. At Burnham there was an absence of esprit de corps among the attendants, who carried out their duties in a perfunctory manner, and the boys had no evening 'amusement. Witness agreed with Mr Sandford about Mr Archey. He had the highest respect for both Mr and Mrs Archey. The allegation that Mr Archey was addicted to drink was totally unfcj-ue. Mr Archey had; a florid complexion, and was perhaps excitable, which might give a wrong impression. Ho was absolutely sure that Mr Archey would not pick out weak hoys for punishment. Dr Symes, medical officer at Burnham for about twelve years, said’ he received £6 8s per month. He had to visit Burnham once a month, and was Bometimes sent for. Arthur Lewis suffered from ulcerated throat in May, and Mies Hamilton, gave up her room to him. Witness saw him on May 28, when his throat was practically well. On Saturday, Juno 2, the boy attended a, football match and got a chill. Next day he went for a walk. On June 6 the matron said she thought the hoy had rheumatism. The manager saw witness on June 7, and he ordered Lewis to the Hospital. The temperature of lOGdeg was very unusual, and only found in typhoid, sunstroke, etc. The boy had sub-acute rheumatism. Witness examined the hoys in all sorts of places—workroom, attendance room, etc. He had nothing to do with whether the boys wore .brought down or not. The complaints were usually trivial. Examinations could not be done properly in a crowded dormitory. The time occupied was from one to two hours, and the cases afterward were discussed with Mr and Mrs Archey. There was more medicine used at 'Burnham than at the Deaf and Dumb institution, though the Burnham hoys were in better physical health. The. sub-matron should he a trained nurse. The trained nurse should alone decide if hoys should go to _ work or stay in bed. Malingering and bad habits could not _be adequately dealt with without training. There ought to he a hospital ward and means of isolating case® of infection. Witness had always recommended these things. Another want was a dispensary. Medicines were now kept in cupboards. and could not Jbe found at ■ a moment’s notice. In such a dispensary there ought to be appliances for; dealing with accidents. A room was required sufficiently remote from noise to enable the medical officer to niako proper chest examinations. The dormitories were draughty. The manager and matron were "Very attentive. The multitude of trivial cases obscured serious ones, and a trained nurse _ would sift the cases. The accommodation for one hundred boys, half young men, was totally inadequate. The reformatory should be on a fertile- island such as Kawau. Witness advocated a training ship. He had been in the Navy, and considered that there only was perfect order with perfect happiness. The septic tank should be improved. Witness had full sympathy with attendants in not having social amusement. They had no billiard room, and oould not get to town for social recreations. ■ It would be better to bavo married* men in. cottages. Frequent changes were inimical to the welfare of the school. Witness gave details of his visits during 19041905. He considered that the punishment of the smaller boys was fairly ■adequate and not too severe. The 'punishment of the older hoys was insufficient. They should be secured to a table or triangle when undergoing corporal punishment. The punishment should bo swift and not prolonged. Wit-, ness thought that the forms of punishment in naval and military places at. Home, such as shot drill, etc., might ho indented at Burnham.

Continuing his evidence in the afternoon, Dr Symes said Lewie would bo liable to get a chill by looking on at a football match. The boy was perfectly convalescent when witness saw' him.

There was no neglect on the part of either Mr or Mrs Archey. . The", treatment of boys at Burnham erred,_ if anything, in the direction of ‘humanitarianism. Lewis’s heart was affected, but not to a great extent. Ho was not fit for the Canterbury climate, and should bo sent back to the North Island. The statement that witness had not seen the boy Butland was untrue. Witness saw him on April 3, and prescribed for him at once, and the manager carried cut hfs instructions. Wilson did not at first appear to be suffering from appendicitis. Witness did not consider Sweeney mentally deficient, although he was- below average intelligence. There could be no objection to corporal punishment in his case. Witness did not approve of corporal punishment generally, but if inflicted, should . be sufficiently severe to have the'desired effect. In the case of old boys and young men a strap was not sufficient. Witness would sooner they received tho cat, if permissible. This did not apply to boys under seventeen.. Witness thought the manager sacrificed himself body and soul for the school. The school had much improved under Mr Archey, who was a good disciplinarian. ' The matron was very attentive and humane. The insinuation that Air Archey was addicted to drink he considered baseless. Witness had tested the water, and found it good, but thought the diet was too liberal. Burnham was not a suitable place for mentally weak boys. The- boy Wright’s ear was bad for twelve months, and was a case requiring the services of a trained nurse. The sanitation and ventilation at Burnham were fairly good. The race water is now filtered with success. Before thla was done, boils were frequent, as a result of using bad water. Since the septic tank had been in use, there had been an outbreak of'boils. The,witness considered that it would not bo beneficial to have the reformatory nearer town.

The Commission adjourned till Tuesday morning, at 10.30, at the Police Court, Provincial Buildings. ,