TE ORANGA HOME.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14156, 7 March 1908, Page 5

TE ORANGA HOME.

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY.

(Per United Press Association.)

CHRISTCHUROH, March 6. The inquiry into the management of To Oranga Home was continued to-day. A. D. Aitkon (accountant) said that an ex-inmate of tho home who had given evidence previously was in his employ. There was no indication as to the girl's age given in the license issued to him. He had forwarded the sum of £12 £s to the matron, being the girl's accumulated wages. Ho applied for a receipt, and after some delay he received an acknowledgment, but not on tho official form. Margaret Early (resident nurse, and formerly matron of the Samaritan Home) said that a certain girl had been sent to the Samaritan Home' from the court in 1905. ■ Tho Commissioner 6aid that tho papers showed that ho had sentenced the girl nominally to imprisonment, with a view of being able to send her to Te Oranga Home. Miss Early said that the girl was sent from the court to the Samaritan Home. She remained there three weoks, and was then committed to the mental hospital. The- nurses .at the mental hospital informed witness that the girl did not show symptoms of insanity. Mr Russell: She was examined by two doctors ami the magistrate before she was sent there. Tho girl had isuicidal tendencies. Miss Early said that she next heard that the girl had been removed from tho mental hospital. In July last Mrs Planting telephoned to find if witness would take her back to the Samaritan' Home. Mr Russell: That was done by Mrs Branting alter communicating with the department. l Miss Early continued that in response to this message she told Mrs Branting to moke arrangements with Mr Sorensen (chairman of the home trustees). As a .result tho girl was received back into the Samaritan Home. She was at. first rather

excitablo and nervous, and inclined to quarrel with the other girls. Later, however, she improved, and occame very goodnatured and obliging, and most amenable to, discipline. After three months, lmd~ elapsed Mrs Brdnting wanted the girl back again, saying that she would keep her undor bolts and bars. Witness desired

to keep the girl in the Samaritan Home, and at her request Mr Sorensen 6aw the matron on the subject with 'a view to the girl being sent to service. " Mr Sorensen, however, reported that Mrs Branting had accused the girl of such terrible thingo that he could not be a party to sending her to any home where there were children. Witness considered that Mrs Branting had no reason to say such. a thing. After the girl had been in tho Samaritan Home nearly a year she suggested again that she should be 6ont out to service, and that if Mrs Branting would not consent a higher power should bo .invoked. Mrs Bean (wife of the Rov. Mr Bean, Addington) took an interest in tho girl, and offered to pay her 12s a week as a domestic servant. Mrs Bean approached Mrs Branting, who repeated that she was going to keep the girl undor bolts and bars and protect the country from the likes of her. Mrs Bean got into communication with the Minister, and as a result witness was informed by Sirs Branting that the girl was to have, a chance, provided witness accepted the responsibility. Witness accepted the conditions, but later on she. was informed that instead of the girl going to,a situation she was to go back to Te Oranga. Witness was in a great dilemma, as the girl had been told that she was to go to a situation. The upshot was that' the girl was taken back to Te Oranga for a fortnight and then went to a situation with Mrs Bean, where she had remained ever since, and was doing well.

[ In reply to Mr Russell the witness said that she knew the girl was sent to the Samaritan Home first on the • application of Mrs Branting, and that she was still tinder the conjol of the Education. Department. " She" knew" also that it, wss a breach v of the law to prevent the girl being taken back to Te Oranga. At.that time you hail arranged with Mm Bean that if you got tho girl she oould have her as servant?— Yes.

; Had you not arranged that you would get her by hook or by croot?—No. I would have given her to Mrs Bean if I possibly could. You refused to give her up?—l said that they could oome and take her, and that. I v/oiild not lift a finger to prevent it, I did' not tell her not to go. She was broken-hearted at having (o go. Did Mrs Branting ring vou up and tell you not to be foolish and to let the girl go?— She spoke much stronger than that. Did you gay thatf your conscience would not let youM may have used those words. Mrs Branting rather took away'my breath. I don't laiow what she said or" what I said, but certainly her language was very strong. You gave the girl your moral support?— I suppose I did.

Did you know that she had attempted to commit Buicids?—l knew that sho had talked about it. A lot of girls are like that. I don't believe 'that oho ■ wanted to do it.

Did you know that it took throe or four girJs to bold ber to prevent her committing suioide?—l didn't know that. \

. Did the girl ever say she didn't want to go back?— Yes.

Mr Russell produced a letter written by the girl when sho was in the Samaritan Home and which had, been received by the matron. The girl stated that she v;a s very happy, that she missed them all very much, and that she would like to be back again. ' .

Mr Salter said that one complaint was that the matron had kept a report regarding tho girl for over a week beforo com-

municating it to the proper person. The Commissioner: That will be a proper thing to examino Mi's Branting on when sho gives her evidence.

fl. B. Sorcnsen (formerly chairman of the Samaritan Home Trustees) said that he wits acquainted with this particular case. When lie received the report from •■ Mrs Branting about tho girl lie considered that if it was correct it would not be safe to send the girl to a place where she would take chf.rge of children.

Mr Salter: What did Mrs Branting say about the girl?— She said that her mother had died in an asylum, that the girl was very excitable, and that she wa-s inclined to some laxity in morals.

Continuing his evidence, the witness stated that after a time he had no 'objection to sending the girl out to service. Someone got into communication from Wellington, and a suggestion was made that the trustees wished to get rid of the girl ; but that was incorrect. Th» girl, though a bit excitable, improved greatly while in the Samantaj; Home.

host Morris (formerly nurse at, the Samaritan Home) said that, the girl was well behaved, and was a great help in the home. Mrs Branting had called at the home and visited her a number of times, but her visite always had a depressing effect. The girl used to bo miserable for days afterwards. AVitness was present at the interviews at the request of the girl. Mrs Brantin;; always scorned to "rub her up" somehow or other. If the girl said that she was getting on all right Mrs Branting would say that she was getting on too wei!, and that she wanted some of her strapping*-to keep her down. Her manner towards the girl was decidedly objectionable.

.Mr Russell: I suppose vou found that the girl was not fond of Mrs BrantingS-Sho said that Mrs Branting was not kind to her, and that she had a down on her. Did the girl dread going back to Te Oranga?—She looked unon that possibility with perfect horror, if she read in the paper of any girl going there she \ised to say, " J'hank God, it isn't me."

Mr Russell produced a letter written by the gir! to the matron stating.that she was looking forward to visiting Te Oranga, and that if all the girls turned-out as she intended them to do they would be a credit to her.-AVitnoss: I couldn't have thought it possible for the girl to write a letter like that after what she has said. AVere her thoughts suggested by you?Mosi; decidedly not. I don't know anything about Mr 6 Branting. Mr Sailer.said that the second time the girl went to the home she was treated with great kindness by Mrs Branting. The period complained of was the first time she was there. That was the explanation of the afftctionate letter, which was written after the second stay in the home.

The inquiry was then adjourned until Monday.