An Industrial School Case.

Manawatu Herald, 3 January 1893, Page 3

An Industrial School Case.

Mr Thomas Lee wrote a letter to the Post concerning his daughter's detention. The facts of the case are- pretty well known in Foxton and it is satisfactory to .find that the Post has taken so much trotfble to put the right view of the (jpe before the public. From a thorough * knowledge or the whole facts we strongly -uphold the reports of Mr Brabant and the police. This is the .Post's explanation : — . §t A short time ago wo publisheP a letter from a Mr Thomas Lee, of Foxton, complaining of the manner in which his daughter was being dealt with by the Industrial School Department. Mr Lee's statement the effect that in 1888 the for "a girlish and childish act," was committed to the BuruHlani School until she readied the age of 16 ; that she attained the age named nearly a year ago, but that the Department had refused to allow her to return home; and that al. though she had been hired put to service % the last two years, he had to pay for her maintenance all the same. The case a very hard one as stated by the father, tSrel we have been at some pains to inves* ■ "tigate tho facts. These place a very tfffferent complexion on the matter. According to the official statement 'before being sent to Burnham the £ghibad been convicted of larceny. The committal was in October 1888/ the girl being then eleven years aud eight months old. The cost of maintenance in the school is 7s per week, but owing to her father's circumstances he was only ordered to pay 8s a week. A year after committal Lee applied for. her release. A report was obtained from the Foxton policd to the effect that, although Lee himself was a respecta* ble and industrious man, the surroundings of his home were of a character which rendered it entirely undesirable that a girl should be exposed to the influences she would meet there. Another application in 1890 was reported on by Mr Brabant, E.M., to a like effect. In June, 1891, when 14 years cf age, the girl was sent out to service. In July the father again applied for her to be sect home, but again an unfavourable report from the police as to tho character of that home led to the request being refused. It is but fair to state that Lee denies the statements made by the police and as to the nature of the v home be desires his daughter to be restored to. Since the girl had been at service her wages huve regularly been placed to her credit in the Savings Bank, and the paymeuts her' father- has been required to make have been of arrears foe the time she was in the school, not for her maintenance since she has been at ser vice. These are tbe facts of the case as we have ascertained them from the Education Department, and from them it does not appear that Lee has any legitimate ground of com. plaint