SECRET INQUIRIES

NZ Truth, Issue 539, 16 October 1915, Page 5

SECRET INQUIRIES

Te Oranga Home Once More

Why are these Matters " Done

m the Dark"?

Charges Formulated by A Clergyman

(From "Truth's" Christchurch Rep.)

"Truth" has frequently drawn attention- to the policy of secrecy Adopted by the Government m respect to inquiries concerning reporti of maladministration In Governraonr institutions, especially those comiag under the tag of the Education or Industrial Schools Departments. In fact, ever since public Inquiries were held concerning certain CANTERBURY REFORMATIVE INSTITUTIONS some years ago, and certain of the administrative authorities were closely and informatively examined by a fearless commissioner, the inquiry into any subsequent allegations containing a spice ot seriousness, has been treated to purely departmental investigation, and the public have been given no hint whatever that the particular institutions under discussion were being conducted m anything but an exemplary and praiseworthy manner. In most cases the secret inquiry conducted by the Government, Is presided over and generally controlled by a person of high official standing m the department under dissection and whose keen interest In.the welfare of that department la almost sure to call forth a certain amount of unconscious bios which must influence v his decision considerably more than would be the case if the investigation was conducted by an independent magistrate, capable of balancing the facts adduced m evidence. Recently a quiet departmental Investigation was conducted m consequence of serious allegations made against one of the heads at a Canterbury reformatory. Except for a few details gleaned and published by "Truth," the general public received no intimation whatever concerning the inquiry, or the subject of inquiry, which, m the caso of a private institution, would assuredly have been threshed out m open Court. The inquiry resulted m the dismissal of the charges which formed the basis. The public, however, were given no intimation to that effect, and it might be reasonably asked whether the matter would have been made public if the charges bad been upheld by the Commissioner. At present the Government is conducting A PIANISSIMO INVESTIGATION concerning allegations which have been i levelled at tho administration of Te Oranga Girls' Industrial School, Christchurch. The secrecy of the investigation Is manifest In the difficulty experienced by "Truth" In acquiring certain information which, at the pre- [ sent stage of the inquiry, and In fairness to those concerned, it would be ! injudicious to publish. It may be men- | tioncd that the inquiry has. been instigated by a minister of religion, and that Sir Edward Glbbs, the secretary for Education, was In Christchurch this i week investigating the allegations which have been made against the institution. It is understood that Sir Edward Gibbs is not acting m that capacity which would give him power to dismiss or uphold the charges made, but that he will merely Investigate and report to the Government At time of writing it could not be definitely ascertained at what stage Sir Edward's investigations had reached. One complaint which la understood to form a subject of Inquiry is the allegation that since the fire occurred at Te Oranga, some months ago, a batch of tho inmates have been transferred to Mount Magdala Home. This | m Itself Is a matter which should be threshed out m publlo. Te Oranga is mostly an Anglican, at any rate, wholly Protestant home, whilst Mt. Magdala is a Roman Catholic Institution. Before committing any child to a home, a magistrate is required by statute to ascertain the faith In which that child is to bo educated, and It Is allotted to a homo accordingly. If it is true then, that despite the provisions laid down by the legislative, the

LAW HAS BEEN FLOUTED by those who were responsible for the transference of Te Oranga inmates, the public should be allowed to know who is responsible and what Is going to be done In the matter. It is palpably unfair to -the public who pay for the institution to be kept In the dark concerning the subject matter of the Inquiry, and when Sir Edward Glbbs makes his recommendation to the Government, "Truth" trusts that the inquiry, if there is to be one, will be open to the press, and not soft pedalled m the manner which Is becoming customary with the Government.