PHARISAICAL PURITANIC PRIGS

NZ Truth, Issue 67, 29 September 1906, Page 6

PHARISAICAL PURITANIC PRIGS

And Broad-minded, Sensible Priest.

Pharisaical people, including par- j sons of gloomy countenance, when asked at the enquiry into the conduct of the Burnham Reformatory if it wouldn't 'be better that the unfortunate inmates .should be allowed to indulge m outdoor games on Sunday instead of being forced to take Ions:, dreary, monotonous walks, which they abhor, have lifted up their snouts and said "no" with great vehemence. They think that the Day of Rest should be observed with due decorum, and that its, sanctity should not be violated. These snufflebustrng sousers don't know what it is to be caged up all the week m a dismal ulace such as Burnham, and to be obliged to tramp their feet off on the Sawhath— always going the same old route, at the same old bat ; a forced march, if ever there was one. An element of cheerfulness should be imported into life at the school on the day that the lads have nothing to do ; but if, there's one thing that parsons and SOUR FACED SOONERS object to it is cheerfulness ; they would sooner see the boys mooning around dejectedly with heavy hearts and depressed spirits. But when R.C. priest Richards was ; placed on the stand at the enquiry the Commissioner heard something quite different. He said he desired to record a most rigorous protest against the rigid Sabbatarianism that prevented . games being indulged m on Sundays after religious worship had" been duly attended to. He couldn't, see the slightest harm m it ; no more can anyone else endowed with a modicum of common sense. This attitude is characteristic Of Catholics all; the world over ; it may be a bit swift m France, parts' of America and elsewhere where horse-racing is indulged m on Sunday afternoons, hut it's the custom of the country, a-nd church is attended morning and evening— or is supposed to he. However, the principle is all right, and, m the case of a blastiferous place like Burnham, it should be affirmed. Father Richards told the Commissioner that he believed the dreary, stereotyped work at the school was very had for the lads. He respected the conviction that prompted ; a protest against recreations on Sunday, hut thought it would he out of place to promulgate an ideal Sunday. It appears that there is a Board of Advice, consisting of outsiders, appointed to. visit the school now and again, hut none of the members of it were able to define their exact duties because they have never been informed what they were by the Government. However, Chairman P. J. Board said the detention yard wasn't necessary, as it hadn't reduced THE NUMBER OF ABSCONDERS. Defectives should be weeded out, and the State should have indefinite control over incorrigibles. The boy ■Lewis/ who was said to have been neglected, *and who is still confined m Christchurch hospital suffeEing from sub-acute rheumatism, had his evidence taken at that institution. Despite what had been said alxmt his sad case, the lad, who is afeed IG, praised the school, and saad he had been treated, all right. Other witnesses had sworn differently. However, he said ihat m the kitchen when they had to scrub they were oibliged to take off^hetr boots and socks. Why this should be compulsory, especially m winter time, nobody 'has yet explained. Mrs Sarah Archey, the matron, has six children, wifeose ages range from 5 to 1.7, and three of these are m town all the weak. She has a Government . servant to help her so that she couM devote* more time to the school. She deniied the statement made that she was rarely m the institution. She went through the building thoroughly every morning. The boys never complained to her of having to take off their boots and socks wfien scrubbing. She was never dictatorial to the attendants. The' allegation tha* Miss Lang worked from 6 a.m. until 9,15 p.m. was ouite untrue. On. the Friday before Easter Miss I^ang complained, of toothachej and Mrs Archey told her that they were busy and she could leave any day after Easter Monday to see the dentist. The good lady expected the girl to STAND THE AWFUL, 'AGONY for. three long days and nights be- - lore she could obtain relief ! That's inhumanity for you. But Miss L. could stand the pain no longer, and wrote a note to, Mrs Archey saying that she must have the day off. Mrs Archey regarded! this as insubordination of the grossest kind; so she promptly gave her the sack. That was what caused a wave of indignation to sweep over the school, and the matron was not spoken of m very complimentary terms. In fact the remarks passrjd were distinctly insulting. Regarding the evidence given by Miss Fisheir, the matron characterised it as a. collection of half truths and exaggerations. The comment which the 'institution had been subjected to of recent years was traceable to a man formerly employed there, whb applied unsuccessfully for the rnana/sership. He was m league ,with the boy Lynch, who figured prominently m the Stoke Orphanage trial. There has been a lot of very contradictory evidence at this enquiry, but little else can be expected an connection with an institution where things are never running smoothly.; Ttie stock question has toeen put to nearly every witness since the opening as to manager Archey's .alleged partiality for strong ■waters^ and the aggregation of evidence nas been m his favor.