81

£.—3b

35. You do not know whether the Government were informed of that change? No. The trustees applied for our aid in the matter, and we gave it. 36. Mr. Wardell.} You do not know that he ceased to be Manager, but you knew he was Manager?— Yes, quite so. 37. Mr. Hogben.] Brother Loetus called himself director in the school ?—That is the term we recognise for the headmaster's position in any school. 38. Was the Manager, Dean Mahoney, consulted when he was appointed director of the school?—I believe he was. 39. Who appointed Brother Loetus director ?—I believe I had the appointment of it. Others may have referred to his coming, but I think the appointment depended upon me. 40. Did you consult Dean Mahoney ?—I believe he was consulted. I rather think that Brother Loetus's predecessor had been withdrawn, and Brother Loetus was here at the time on a health visit, and there was some mention made about his appointment then. He was simply in New Zealand at that time on a health visit from Australia, and I think he was even at Stoke at the time. 41. And you believe the Manager was really consulted ?—I believe he was referred to. 42. But the appointment was made by yourself?—By myself. 43. Has the Manager the power to dismiss the Director? Brother Loetus is director or head master of _ the school: supposing that in the opinion of the Manager he was no longer fitted for that position, would the Manager—Dean Mahoney—have the power to remove him from the position of director of the school?— Yes, we recognise that. Of course, we would consider it a very serious matter that would require action of that kind—an extreme measure. 44. But he has the power to do that without referring to you?—lt would be becoming of him to refer to me, and give his reason why there should be an appointment of a successor. 45. It would be a matter of courtesy that everybody would follow to refer to you; but he would have the power to remove him ?—Yes. 46. Will you refer to section 11 of the Industrial Schools Act [produced] ? That concerns the appointment of the Manager.—Yes, quite so. 47. It has been suggested that one possibility might be that the Director and Manager might become the same person in the future, and possibly the control of the institute might be simplified. If the Director became the Manager, would you act on a request from the Government to remove the Manager ?—I would. 48. Mr. Wardell.] That is to say, if a member of your Order became Manager you would, at the request of the Government, remove him ?—Yes. 49. Mr. Hogben.} With regard to the rest of the staff: Who appoints the other members of the staff to their respective positions in the school, besides that of director?— That is generally done by the director himself, often in consultation with the Provincial. 50. The director has power to appoint them ? —Yes. 51. Is it a direction to him to consult the Manager in making those appointments?—No, it is not; it is implied. He (the headmaster) has a knowledge of these men,*and that naturally leads him to employ them in one class of the school or another, or in the discharge of other functions. 52. But it is not a direction to him to consult the Manager ?—lt is not. 53. Do you know, as a matter of fact, that the Manager has been consulted ?—I cannot say. 54. Would the Manager have power to appoint a man if he thought he was more fitted for the position than another man?—l do not think it would be advisable for the Manager to do it without the assent of the headmaster who has control of the staff. 55. But would he have the power to do it ?—I do not know that a case of that kind has ever occurred. 56. Do you think that he would have the power if it did occur ? For instance, if the Manager thought one Brother more fitted to control one part—the technical part, say—of the school, would you consider he would have the power to name that person?—l think that, distinctly apart from the management of the school, if he interfered and ruled the headmaster it would naturally bring him into consultation with me. 57. In that case, am I to understand that the Manager has not the power to dismiss members of the staff?—l mentioned before there is distinction in the meaning of that word "dismiss." A Brother may be removed from place to place. 58. I used the word " dismiss" in this sense : A Brother occupies a certain position in the school; he is removed from that position—or, in an extreme case, from any position in the school: would not the Manager have power to remove a Brother from any given position in the school ? For grave reasons I recognise that authority. 59. And when you say " grave reasons," would you include unfitness for the post as one of'the reasons ?—Evidently. 60. Would you include, in that case, a case in which the Manager thought one Brother was much more fitted for a particular position than another Brother ?—I think he should consult with the headmaster in regard to that, and that would be the only means of securing unity of action in the schools. 61. But would the Manager have power to request a rearrangement of the staff?— Yes, decidedly he would have. 62. Who hap the power of suspension, if the necessity arises, of a member of the staff—the Director ? —The Director or the Manager. 63. Has the Manager—Dean Mahoney—or any other person who might occupy the position, control over the clothing of the inmates?—He has, whether he exercises it or not. 64. Has that information been conveyed to him ?—I think it is implied in his position as Manager. 11— E. 3b.