TE ORANGA HOME INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 152, 21 March 1908, Page 6

TE ORANGA HOME INQUIRY

THE MATRON'S EVIDENCE. PUNISHMENT METHODS EXPLAINED. IBV TIiLECIUrn—I'JIKSS ASSOCIATION.I Ghristciiurch, March 20, The inquiry regarding To Oranga Home was continued by "Mr. H. W. Bishop, Commissioner, to-day. Mr. Russell stated he would like to explain, before he called Mrs. Branting, that with regard to the voucher that was mentioned, Mrs. Branting gave the postman ss. at Christmas time, and when asked how it was to be charged, she said to tho clerk, "Put it down to fruit, fish dinners, or anything you like." The item was charged to dinners, bringing that voucher to 10s. With the exception of the ss. gratuity this voucher was correct. It was no use denying that she acted <nHwiscly, and anything she could now do would not make it. right. .. .

Mi's. Branting, matron of the Home, stated that she had been soven and tlireequarter years in charge of the institution. Sho was not dependent on the Home for- a livelihood, and held the. position more for love .of the work : than anything else. Moral persuasion was used, ana sho was always trying to;, persuade the girls to reform. The Department was goodness itself in rendering ;any assistance that would help to carry out the objects of the institution. Impudence ,was :the principal fault among the inmates.. In.order to preserve discipline she told the. staff that they had to speak to a girl three or four times before she was reported for punishment. The offence was put down in a book supplied to oach member oi the staff-,: and then reported to her. In order to punish a girl she might have to go a "piece" short for-tea. When a girl was "put into''a cell it was immediately reported to her, and sho either confirmed or cancelled it. When a .girl assaulted another sho strapped her, but usually talked: the matter over with any such girls before punishment was inflicted. '" Twelve' strokes'of a strapowere usually administered to absconders.: Girls were prepared to assert ' theimsolves if discipline was not maintained, and if the strap were abolished, what would: happen to tho. staff ? She was .of ■ opinion that they .would all send in their, resignations unless something equally efficient-were provided. Tho home at present was deficient in accommodation.

Mr. Russell: If.you had a third ward ip. which.to put .more serious offenders would tbafrbe of great benefit to: you ? 1 Witness: Yes, it-would ;do , away with a large. amount of corporal punishment.Mr. Russell, then- went-into the of-the ss. gratuity to the postman, and Mrs. Branting admitted it was wrong. She never retained any. money belonging to the girls. Continuing, .witness said-grubbing lupins was very easy work. "Witness had only heard one complaint in regard to food, and there was shortage at one meal. 'It was not her .'practice, to bos girls' ears, but still she might have done it; Before prayers in the evening she had spoken to some of the girls as to their faults, but she never cast them up at them. One girl, who attempted to take other .'girls to a house, of ilUfame, was strapped. She was \'ery troublesome, and received twelve strokes; besides getting her hair cut off. ' Witness received permission from Wellington to- cut off ner hair. With, regard to the girl sent ito the Sama-ritan-Home, witness was responsible for her, and the situation sho was aole to take was not, in witness's opinion, suitable. The girl was'placed in the first; class- when - she returned to To Orangay and'-tho only explanation, that witness could offer as to her statement " that sho was overwhelmed with kindness at the homo " was that she had been led to believe otherwise when' she was out of the home.

Witness then went into details of Miss Howdon's engagement. < She \wa3 riot solely engaged to- do' clerical -work,' '.but'-.to assist the staff when necessary.' :; 'Miss''Ho>vdeii was away ill for some time,. and after she came back there was a great deal of unrest between Classes l and 2. On an evening when Mrs. Kayo was conducting class she was' informed that . Miss. Howden; had been conferring, with the girls. ' She inquired into the matter immediately, arid had written statements from the girls concerned: There was no- possibility of collusion among tho girls, as they, all slept in separate .dormitories, and did not know until summoned in turn' what they wero wanted for. Miss. Howden denied tho charges. The statements of the girls wero forwarded to the Department,, and later Miss Howdcn was dismissed. ' Only a very small, proportion of- the girls were morally bad. No girl had been confined ■in a cell .for a month. ,A dightj was generally' left burning when a girl was' confined in a cell at night. -Letters written to the Department were .not private, arid sho had never said that sho c'ould'.get 'Sir- E. 0. Gibbes to do''what sho wanted sending a privato letter to him.