HARSH TREATMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 109, 11 May 1931, Page 8

HARSH TREATMENT

GIRLS’ RECEIVING HOMES THE MINISTER’S DENIAL AUCKLAND, May 9. Allegations of harsh treatment which is said to have been shown towards girls committed to receiving homes oi boarded with foster parents in Auckland were dealt with by the Minister of Education, when addressing a large deputation of social workers yesterday. The authors of the charges were Mrs Sojak. Mrs Emily Gibson, and Miss Constance ISP Adam, who submitted a scries of cases which reflected, in their opinion, serious faults in the working of the Child Welfare Act, as administered by the Education Department. “Upon examination it has been found that Mrs Sojak’s statements are not in accordance with facts,” said the Minister “It was stated that on December 19 one of the girl inmates at the receiving home In Auckland was whipped by the matron because she did not sweep a verandah satisfactorily. There is no truth whatever in this statement. It may be stated definitely that such punishments as flogging and solitary confinement are not administered in girls’ institutions.” He sai- that the other allegations were also baseless and he severely rebuked the critics.