B.—3b

42

Mary's?—l do not think they would apply, except so far as they are founded, and I believe they are, on common-sense. 92. Could you give a dietary scale founded on common-sense?— Without assuming that, lean give the scale at Burnham, which I have just received by telegram. I can also give the existing scale at Caversham, also received by telegram. [Telegrams read, as follows] : — Burnham Dietary Scale, Breakfast. —Bread and milk three times a week ; porridge four times a week; with each morning bread and dripping and oofiee. Dinner. —Sunday: Cold roast beef, potatoes, pickles, and plum pudding. Monday: Roast mutton, potatoes, fresh vegetables in season. Tuesday : Corned beef, with bacon occasionally; potatoes; fresh vegetables, boiled with meat; plain suet pudding, with stewed fruit or syrup, or roly-poly jam pudding. Wednesday : Meat pie, potatoes, fresh vegetables in season. Thursday: Boiled mutton; hot fresh vegetables, boiled with meat. Friday: Corned beef, hot, with baoon occasionally ; potatoes; fresh vegetables, boiled with meat; rioe pudding, with stewed fruit or ourrants, and with milk. Saturday : Irish stew, with bread. In winter time, when there is a scarcity of fresh vegetables, haricot beans are served as a variety. Tea.—Bread, with butter, three times a week, bread and dripping four times a week, with one slice of bread and jam, syrup, or honey eaoh evening, except Sunday ; currant buns on Friday ; tea and cocoa on alternate evenings. In season, abundance of lettuces, radishes, and onions ; also plenty of fresh and stewed fruit. Weights of meat per day, 40 lbs.; 601b. potatoes, 401b. vegetables, both clean. Quantity of milk each day: From 6to 20 gallons, according to season. Weight of butter per week : 7 lb. Number- of boys in residence at present: 112. A number of boys have been transferred from Caversham to Burnham within the last three months, and the average number in residence would be during that period (roughly speaking) about a hundred. Caversham Dietary Scale. Breakfast— Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, porridge, bread, dripping, coffee; other days same, without porridge. Tea. —Bread, treacle, or dripping, five days; Sunday, jam; Thursday, butter; Friday, buns as well. Dinner. —Monday: Irish stew. Tuesday: Barley soup, meat, rice pudding. Wednesday; Boiled beef, dumplings, potatoes. Thursday : Eoast beef, suet pudding, potatoes. Friday: Meat pies, rioe ; or bread puddings. Saturday : Stew. Sunday : Cold mutton, pickles, plum pudding. Also other vegetables, five days. 62 lb. meat :29 quarts milk daily, institution and staff. Boll: 79. 93. Mr. Wardell.] By whom are these scales drawn up ?—By the Managers, in accordance with the general instructions of the Department. There is no scale laid down by the Department. 94. Can you tell me how long the scale has been in force at Burnham? —About a year and a quarter It has been varied from time to time. The amount of milk and fresh vegetables has been increased on representations from the Department. I should consider it a fault if the dietary were not varied from time to time. 95. Can you tell us when it was raised to the present scale ?—About a year ago. The only difference before was a slight difference in fresh vegetables and milk. We are trying to improve that from a dietetic point of view. 96. This dietary scale is not prescribed by the Department ? —No ; but general instructions are followed. 97. Is there stewed fruit for tea every day, and when is it served?—l cannot say ;I do not think it is given every day. When I saw the school the first course was the stewed fruit. 98. Mr Harley.] Is the meat without bone ?—No; not necessarily; it depends. The meat is boned as in any ordinary private family. 99. Mr. Wardell.] The scale at other schools varies to the same extent ?—At the present time Burnham and Caversham are the only two. 100. Mr Harley.] There is one at Auckland mentioned in the schedule. Is that closed ?— No; that is an auxiliary school for girls and young boys. It would be difficult to draw up a scale for that. The roll at Caversham has been lately decreased by transfers to Burnham. I may say that I tested the supply of meat at Burnham, and found that the average quantity of meat per inmate per day was something over 8 oz. uncooked. 101. Is this style of feeding reported in any fashion to your department?—We know what they get; we control the supplies. All accounts go through the department. We have a general knowledge of what the farms and gardens at the schools can produce. As regards purchases from tradesmen, we have a double check, as there is a store at the school, and everything taken out is delivered by the storeman. The scale is approved generally by the department. 102. How many boys are there at St. Mary's?— One hundred and twenty-six on the day of my visit. One hundred and twenty-five were in the room, and one was accounted for. The average last year was about the same number. 103. What are the averages at Burnham and Caversham ?—lt has been about the same, except when Burnham had girls. 104. What is the cost per week per head at Burnham ?—lf you give a proportionate amount of the cost of management to those in residence, it would be something under 7s. a week. 105. Does that include clothing ? —Yes; approximately. Part of the services of the management is taken up in looking after boys who are boarded out, &c. 106. Mr. Wardell.] Is that the same at Stoke ?—Not exactly; there are none boarded-out there. Some are licensed out. These estimates are given from my general impressions. I should like to be allowed to give exact figures later. 107. Mr. Harley.] How many boys at St. Mary's are supported by the Government ?—One hundred and twenty-six. 108. They do not pay for all of them, do they ?—Yes. They recover something from the Charitable Aid Boards for some. That is public money, too. 109. Are there not a number of orphans put there by the Catholic Church, or friends of the Church ?—I do not think there is a considerable number. The majority are put there by the Government and Charitable Aid Boards under the conditions of the Industrial Schools Act.