H.—2l.

54

[b. v ; sodden.

67. Mrs. Branting put no obstacle in the way of your going?—-No, she was very kind, and allowed me to go. 68. Then she telegraphed you at the end of a fortnight to resume your duties? —She wrote to me. I had informed her my sister was no better. 69. Then she wrote and said unless you returned to the Home you must send in your resignation ?—She did not exactly use those words. 70. You know in that letter Mrs. Branting said Miss Hunt and she were doing your work? —Yes, in my absence. 71. That, of course, meant attendants' work?— Yes. 72. Did you not infer from that that Miss Hunt and Mrs. Branting performed the duties of attendant in your absence? —No, I did not gather that. Mrs. Branting did the office-work before I went there, and Miss Hunt assisted her occasionally. 73. But did you think that in doing your work they were doing your attendant's work? —I suppose they managed the same as before I went there. 74. Were you not dissatisfied with your position from the start ?—I was very dissatisfied at having to go out in the cold in the morning. 75. Why, when you found you were called upon to perform duties you had not contracted to undertake, did you not give the place up?—l was going to continue for six months, when I was to be relieved of them. 76. That is when the new wing was up?— Yes. Mrs. Branting told me about the new wing, but I wanted something more definite. The Department had agreed to give me £60, and Mrs. Branting cut it down to £52; but at the end of six months she said she was going to give me £60 and relieve me of attendants' duties. 77. You were not back very long before you contracted influenza? —Not very long. 78. So that from July until you came back in September you were practically away most of the time?—l had been away a month altogether. It was most unfortunate, but I was not ill from choice. 79. During the time you were there did you form an opinion, the same as you have expressed to-day, that the management was utterly wrong, that the girls were horribly punished, and that injustice in everything was being inflicted upon them?—No; I had quite a different opinion at first. 80. When did you first realise, as you have stated to-day, that the girls were unjustly treated? —While at the Home, from seeing things happen. I know Miss Mills punished girls without taking them to the Matron. 81. And you took quite a different course with the girls, and treated them kindly? —Yes. 82. And let them do what they liked pretty well? —No, I did not. 83. Is it not a fact that you practically told the girls they could do what they liked?—No; the girls always obeyed me. 84. Did you ever tell them to do the work the other staff did? Did you insist upon them doing the work the same as the other staff did, or did you allow the girls to have their own way 1 —If the girls straightened their backs at all the other staff reported them. I certainly did not. 85. When you went out with them you took a book and read, and let the girls do what they liked practically?—l do not think I had a book. 86. Never on any occasion? —I had writing material on one afternoon. 87. Did you ever tell the girls you were not an attendant, but that you came there as a clerk? —Yes; when the girls have called me another attendant. 88. Did you not tell them you were not going to-act as an attendant with them? —No, I did not. If the girls were under my charge I had to look after them to see they carried out my instructions. 89. Did you ever sympathize with the girls as against the staff and Matron?—l do not think I have. 90. Did you ever on any occasion say to a girl it was a " hellish thing to be treated like this "1 —No, I have never used that expression. 91. You are quite sure of that?—l am absolutely sure. 92. Did you ever tell the girls you considered they were very unjustly treated?—No, I do not think I ever told them that. 93. Did you ever talk about the girls absconding? Did you ever say you did not wonder at them trying to abscond? —No, I nevef"used that expression. • 94. You swear that?—l have no recollection of ever using those words. 95. Or words to that effect?—l never remember having said such a thing. 96. You have never on any occasion said that to the girls? —I may have made a remark, like that to' the staff, if I ever did make it. 97. Do you know a girl named C ?—Yes. 98. Do you know a girl named R B ?—Yes. 99. Did you ever say to her or any of the other girls that an inquiry was coming on, as you knew it from the newspapers?—No; I never did say anything about an inquiry. 100. Did you say to R B that some girl had said something about the Home outside, and that the Matron's name would soon be " Walker "?—No; I never used that expression. That is the expression the Matron used to me in regard to Miss Mills. 101. Did you ever tell this girl not to let any one ask any questions about you?—l cannot remember. 102. Have you ever made any presents to the girls?—l think I have given them sweets. 103. Have you ever made them presents contrary to the regulations?—l never heard it was contrary.