ST. HELEN'S HOME INQUIRY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1668, 7 February 1913, Page 6

ST. HELEN'S HOME INQUIRY.

__—■...» ~ ■■_ -- THE RECORDS.

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(By Telegraph.—Prees Association.) • \ Auckland, February «V ''The inquiry into the.adminlslration of St, Helen's Homo was continued before the Commissioner (Mr,- C, C. Kettle, S.M.) ,- to-dny. Further evidence, was token in;' connection with the case .of'tip lato,Mrs. Chamberlain .upon 'resuming.. '. • • The matron (Miss Ludwig) ; continued) < her evidence. " ' ,' , ■'■ ■' When'i Mrs. Mcol commenced' to cross* examine the matron.in connection, with l • the case o{ Mrs. Porch, Mr. Selwyn Maya voiced his disapproval of any action lni' the direction:of ti general examination of the case. ' I'jho' books of' the homo' (explained Mr.' Mays) contained descriptionsof ■ mental cascs.-and cases involving con- .. tagious 'diseases. If. tho, details of eucli cases wero published, \f\ might, load t0..,, complications. He argued thjit the books should ho searched' for details of such • cases only as, directly affected tho pre- . sent .inquiry.' "• '•;.'"•- ''.-'■.'' Mrs. Njcol:.Why don't' you:Sny that; I you. nre/afraid of what .F,know, of tho -' contents of the books?"

It'was explained by; Mr. Mays that his remarks hod not- been directed towards Mrs. Nicol'. - Ho had challenged- Mr. Skclt'on's' exploration of the',bookso"Fur-. ~. ther (Mr.'.Mays stated),-ho wouldurotest ; against the details of other cases In: the ; books being brought ; forward before Dr. \- ■■ Valintine - and ' Miss M'Loan had. given .- ■ 'their evidence.' . »'•-. -.-.-: It was stated by-Mr. .Skelton that-his - clients., were- not' only emicerned"•■ with,. ;" the treatment of Mrs. Chamberlain in.tho | "-.~ home, but also desired to get the. pre- Vsent St. Helen's Home building condemned. Ho would like to thoroughly examine "■ the books as, though ho had only looked^--.,■ through nine' pages, ho' had discovered ;,■.,, some very voluablo facts. ! -■■ '.. ';.-••''' '■:■!" ■'• Tho question of allowing tho, books' to bs examined was eventually adjourned, the Commissioner, intimating that. 1 ho -would likb to hear legal: argument upon; .

.Mrs. Nicbl continued. her examination! , of tho matron. touching upon, the oues-. tr'«n of certain sanitary.arrangements at ; the homo! She concluded by remarking ;r . that, in 1 hospitals.' likeiSt. Helen s,: pa. ..; tients often'suffered dire trouble through! the neglect of 'sanitation.. • ■ • ;,• ■;• .';.■:- Tho matron: I am being baited noM y-. by Mrs.: Nicol. I' have doneno % wrong, : and I amnot going to bo bullied by her. ;■-, I •wish your Worship would; prevent her;; from making rutio remarks;: 1 '" ; • •'., ■-. •■.-. .The- Commissioner: You-will .navp,:td stop it, Mrs.Nicol. '•:-., ... « '■' Mrs. Nicol: But have I said any thing r •The* Commissioner: T did'nbt hearclearly what was 1 said, but. if you makel. \ offe'risivo'remarks,'it must be put down.,- ,-,- Mrs.' Nfeor asked if a portion'of.he*,,', evidence stating that she did not sug> j .gest that the books "were destroyed in view., of the inquiry, lmgkt be erased.., .;■■■ "'The. Commissioner duly noted; tho requestfnnd, upon inquiring her reasons;: , for making it,' was informed that, she ,■ might bo able to bring, evidence to show..that tho books were destroyed in con- ; ■■~, nection with tlie inquiry. ' - ..■.'.-■■ ■ "The Commissioner! The wsinuation-is- . la very serious'one,'Mrs. Nicoll •■ •, ■'. The inquiry, was then, adjourned. , .. ,v