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Session 11. 1906. NEW ZEALAND.

EDUCATION: BURNHAM INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL. (REPORT OF COMMISSIONER.)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency

To His Excellency the Right Honourable William Lee, Baron Plunket, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor and Gommander-in-Chief in and over His Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies. May it please Youk Excellency. I, the Commissioner appointed by Your Excellency's Letters Patent of the 23rd August, 1906, which Letters Patent were extended on the 19th September, 1906, and by which I was to inquire into the management of the Burnham Industrial School and the treatment of the resident inmates thereof during the last two years in regard to the following matters, that is to say: — Scope of inquiry : Commission. (a.) The suitability and efficacy of the methods adopted in the said school for the classification of the inmates in sections or grades for reformatory treatment: (6.) The general treatment of the inmates, having regard to humanity on the one hand and the maintenance of proper discipline on the other: (c.) The treatment of the inmates in sickness, and, in particular, the treatment of the inmate Edward Arthur Lewis during or about the months of May and June last: (d.) The duties of the members of the staff and whether or not such duties or the conditions under which they are performed entail any undue hardship : : (c.) The relations between the Manager and Matron and the staff of attendants under their control, and the discretion or otherwise exercised by the Manager and Matron r: ; ; '.'.■■ in respect of their dealings with such attendants: And upon the evidence brought before me in my proceedings as aforesaid, and upon any other evidence that I might in this behalf obtain (but without having regard to the limit of tinie thereinbefore expressed), to report my opinion as to the extent to which the said school has been successful in improving the moral and social conditions of the inmates, and is generally fulfilling the purpose of a reformatory, have to report as follows: — (a.) Classification. : Burnham buildings: Method of classification. The buildings at Burnham are very old, very straggling, and very inconvenient, and do not readily lend themselves to efficient classification. At the present time the inmates are divided into four classes. The classes I, 11, an-d 111 are each divided into Grades A, B, and C. Class IV is the detention-yard section. On admission each inmate is classified according to the circumstances of his committal, age, and previous character. He is placed in Grade Cof the class decided upon as appropriate to his case. He remains in that grade for six months. If his conduct is satisfactory during that period he is promoted to Grade Bof the same class, and if he continues satisfactory, to Grade A; and so on to the highest grade in the highest class obtainable. .;'. ... .. . \ . .._ Monitors. Monitors are selected on account of fitness, age, and conduct.

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