TE ORANGA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9193, 24 March 1908, Page 3

TE ORANGA.

THE INQUIRY CONCLUDED. THE DEPARTMENTAL VIEW. The inquiry regarding Te Oranga Home was concluded before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., Commissioner, yesterday. Susannah Isherwood and Clara Bono both volunteered evidence as to the Home and its excellent conduct, and bore testimony to the very kindly relations existing between the matron and the inmates. Roland Henry Pope said he had been in the service of the Education Department for 25 years, and acted entirely in connection with the children cared for by 'the State. The Department regarded his as the most important branch of its work. It had spent over £54.000 on it since 1900, and it was committed to works worth £25,000 or £30,000. It spent pn institutions annually about £40,000. Having due regard to the taxpayers' interests, everything was provided for the children. Mr Bishop said that the taxpayers' pocket should not be considered. Every girl reformed was a clear gain to the State; every girl left unreformed in the Home was a clear loss and expense. Could anything other than more accommodation be supplied to make the reformatory process at Te Oranga easier ? Mr Pope said that the food and the conditions were at least as good as in the girls' own homes, where they might get more luxuries, but less wholesome food. Tho dietary scale was wholesome, and the Department would supply anything needed in special cases. It took an interest in each individual, and followed her career carefully, as at Burnham. Mr Bishop said that the system of watching the boys' careers at Burnham was excellent. The, witness continued that the matron's actions were, always, in his opinion, dictated solely by her desire to d<? the best for the girls, and that she was absolutely wrapped up in them. He had at first considered her a little hard, but had completely changed his opinion. The manners of the inmates were a sufficient guide as to their attitude to> the staff. Mrs Brantine: was most able, ocupying as she did the most difficult post in the Department. The work tlie girls did was regarded by them much as a pastime. The girls had made it a battlewcry to threaten to "Tell Mr Pope," but not one had ever made a serious complaint to him, though they were on intimate terms. Mr Pope gave a detailed account of the interviews and correspondence that led up to the discharge of Miss Howden, and several letters were produced and read. He said that he had never had any complaint from Miss Howden. It was never* intended that she should be anything but a clerk attendant at £52 a year, and the matron had instructions to that effect. Questioned as to punishments, the witness said that in the whole of New Zealand only two girls— the two in Te Oranga — had ever had their hair cut .as a punishment. One other, a confined absconder, had entered Te Oranga with her hair short, and instructions had been given to keep it short to restrain her. On three occasions the Department had refused to allow the hair to be cut. All the cases were considered by the Minister himself. In the case of the two girls mentioned, the Secretary of Education sent a memorandum to the Minister referring to hair-cutting as "an outrage which can scarcely be defended," but he added, "sentiment has its limits," and recommended that the cutting should be allowed. On his recommendation the Minister gave authority for it to be done. There could be no question as to the propriety of cutting the hair if it would prevent girls leaving to take up such a life as' those absconders aimed at. The Department was averse to avoidable corporal punishment, especially in the case of older girls. At Burnham it had been much reduced, and at Te Oranga the number of corporal punishments was small. Thej were given only when persistent misbehaviour threatened the discipline of the Home. ' The deprivation of pleasures could not alone suffice, because girls would upset the discipline even if they were cut off from all their privileges. The locking-up of the worst cases would bring corporal punishment to a minimum, but it would be a grave thing to eliminate the right to punish that way. If the girls knew it had been abolished, the. effect would be most serious. The Department's control over the punishment was restricted at present to the regulations and" to supervision of the records. Mr Bishop asked if the Department could not entirely control the punishment, keeping the infliction in its hands. The present outcry was. against indiscriminate punishment by one in charge of the inmates. Witness said that it was not desirable to submit cases to a magistrate. The less the girls came into contact with the Courts the better. The provision of a third class would practically do away with the strap, and if the girls would not respond to reformatory treatment they must go a step further and be submitted to further detention. When, an inmate unfit to be at large was n earing discharge, the case should be brought before the Magistrate, the inmate to be provided by* the State with counsel, and by the Court her period could be extended for, say, four years. Tlie Minister should still retain his power to license her out. Tlie process could be repeated, but the indeterminate sentence savoured of determined criminality, which was not always present. Sixty-two girls had passed out of control since the Home had been opened. Of these 32 were of good character, 13 were fair, 8 were bad. 3 missing, 3 were weak-minded and 3 had died. The Department did not claim success till the girl had been beyond control for three years. Only 39 had passed that period, and many had gone in at an advanced age. The results from the younger girls now coming to the Home would be much better. Mr Salter cross-examined as to the right of the matron to keep a certain girl under discipline after she was twenty-one, and to keep her money. The witness said that it was not according to the regulations, but the girl xvas benefited, or was at least certainly not harmed by it. Even the retention of her wages foi* her was not a disadvantage. The Home was equipped according to its needs, and there was no skimping. Miss Howden was not being judged on the statement of the three girls. There were the expressions of unrest in the Home, and these were considered along with the fact that Miss Howden was discontented with her position. To Mr Bishop : Te Oranga was the only female reformatory in New Zealand, and took all the very worst girls dealt with under the Industrial Schools Act. The system of keeping the punishment book would be improved in future. In the light of the various suggestions regarding classification he thought there should certainly be four classes, including one as a probationary department. The new building would hold a probation class and a third class. There was no further evidence. Mr Salter made an application for the payment of his costs by the Department. Mr Bishop deferred consideration of the matter, and the inquiry terminated.