TE ORANGA HOME ENQUIRY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9061, 9 April 1908, Page 5

TE ORANGA HOME ENQUIRY.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONER. BY TELEGRAPH—I'KESS ASSOCIATION WELLINGTON, April 8. The report of the Commissioner, Mr Bishop, S.M., appointed to inquire into certain matters connected with Te Oranga Home, has been received. The Commissioner states that owing to the lack of sufficient and suitable accommodation, girls have been dealt with in two classes, the better girls being put in the first class, and the more troublesome girls in the second. The difficulties of management under the present system are almost over powering,and must often strain the patience and temper of the attendants to breaking point. The inmates consist of girls of all ages', many of them having been hardened and corrupted by indulgence in all forms of vice. The additions about to bs made to the Home will improve the whole system, and enable the matron to so deal by way of classification with certain girls as to do away entirely with a great deal of punishment that she feels called upon at present to inflict to ensure proper discipline. The Commissioner finds fault with the matron for the way in which she kept the register of punishments, and expresses himself opposed to the use of the strap on young women. The assertion that it would be impossible to run the institution at all if corporal punishment were abolished, he regards as a serious admission of weakness. He thinks corporal punishment should be entirely abolished at Te Oranga, but if the Department is not prepared to go to that length, then it should be used on the authority of the Department, and under medical approval. The Commissioner concludes:~"l can imagine no greater incentive to reform in the case of most of these young people than the fear of undeterminate detention. 1 believe it would do more to help forward the work of reformatories than anything else."