To Oranga Homo Enquiry

Southland Times, Issue 12105, 9 April 1908, Page 4

To Oranga Homo Enquiry

COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. For United Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 8. The report of Commissioner Bishop, S.M., apolnted to enquire Into certain matters connected . with Te Oranga Home, has been received. The Commissioner states that owing to lack of sufficient and suitable accommodation girls had been dealt with In two classes, II)e better girls being put in the first class and more troublesome girls in the second. The difficulties of management under the present system are almost overpowering, and must often strain the patience and temper of the attendants to breaking point. The inmates consist of girls of all ages, many of them having been hardened and corrupted by indulgence in all forms of vice.

The additions about to be made to the Homo will improve the whole system and enable the manager to so deal, by way of classification, with certain girls as to do away entirely with a great deal of punishment that she feels called upon at present to inflict to ensure proper discipline. The Commissioner finds fault with the manager for the way in which she kept the register of punishments and expresses himself opposed to the use of the strap on young women. The assertion that it would be impossible to run the institution at all if corporal punishment were abolished lie regards as a serious admission of weakness. He thinks corporal punishment should he entirely abolished at Te Oranga, but if the department is not prepared to go that length, then it should be used on the authority of the department and under medical approval. He comments In terms of approval on tiie staff and their relations with the manager, and concludes ; " 1 can Imagine no greater incentive to reform in the case of most of those young people than fear of indeterminate detention. I believe It would do more to help forward the work of reformatories than anything else.”