TE ORANGA HOME.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2239, 16 November 1907, Page 4

TE ORANGA HOME.

TILE ALLEGED FLOGGING. PLAIN SPEAKING IN PARLIAMENT.

(Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 15. When tho House mot tins niternoon Air. T. H. Davey (Christchurch East) nskotl tho Minister for Education if iris attention had been called to tho letter published in tho papers over tho signature of itho Rev. F. P. Fomin 11, Vdoar of Rangiora, relating to tho treatment of two girls at the To Orange Home, and whether an inquiry would bo made. “.My attention has been called ito tho matter,” replied tho Minister, “and 1 have asked for a report from tho managers of the Home.” The only portion of the letter which he h,ui any knowledge was the cutting of the hair. That was a form of punishment that was only allowed in exceptional cases, and must ho sanctioned by tho Minister. At the present time there wero two or . three incorrigible girls, who had given a good deal of trouble, ami had boon addicted to running away. The running away of girls from institutions of the description of the To Oranga Home was a serious matter. (Hear, hear.) Strong measures had therefore been taken. From tho ovidonco that luid been submitted to him in ■these cases it seemed to bo ono for that punishment. Regarding the question of further punishment lie had no information regarding it, but when he received such information lio would bo in a position to give an answer. Mr. Laurenson said ho hoped tho Minister would see his way to inquire into tho allegations made in regard to tho cutting otf of the girls’ hair. lio hold that aiiyrthiirg in tlio nature of a disfigurement by way of punishment should not bo allowed in the institution. (Gear, hear.) , Mr. Hogg expressed tlho opinion that a full inquiry should he liokl into a matter of this kind. About two years ago two girls in Masterton were arrested, and th e police expressed to lvim their utter detestation with tlio kind of work they had to perform. These girls wero sent back to Christchurch, where they had to work very hard at laumlry work, for which they received no payment. They were in good employment in Masterton, and would havo done well for themselves. Their employers wero exceedingly annoyed at their being taken away. Tho exhibition of tlieso girls being arrested and placed in carriages to be conveyed back to Christchurch was a particularly deplorable one. He felt there was a necessity for a full investigation as to tlio way tlieso homes wero managed, and for tho purpose of ascertaining tlio reason why they left these homes, whore they wero treated virtually as slaves. Air. Ell said he had heard complaints about this Homo from other people. He referred to a case in which a “ißlack Maria” with a policeman in uniform had been employed to take a girl hick to the Home. iHo had heard such complaints regarding the severity of the discipline and the extreme severity of the policy pursued that he thought an inquiry necessary. It might bo necessary for the sake of cleanliness to remove a girl’s hair or to out it short, but it was an abominable thing to have tho hair cut off as a punishment. It savored of Russian methods instead of the methods of a civilised country.