H.—7A;

6

[EDWARD NEWPORT.

THE CASE OF JOHN KENNEDY. Wednesday, 7th September, 1904. Dr. Levinge stated the reasons why Kennedy was suspended. Representations were made to him by the Head Attendant to the following effect, before the suspension—viz., 30th August: That Kennedy's action was calculated to cause unrest, and discontent, and dissatisfaction amongst the staff, by fomenting an agitation for the redress of certain alleged grievances. This, together with untruthfulness and untrustworthiness, was the ground of his suspension. He would now proceed to prove these reasons. Edward Newport, Head Attendant, examined. Witness (to Dr. Levinge): I made certain representations to you about Kennedy carrying on an agitation among the attendants. On one occasion after Kennedy was working at the doctor's residence, Dr. Levinge summoned him to the office at 1 o'clock, and reprimanded him in my presence. Dr. Levinge told him he was not satisfied with him, and had every reason to believe he was an agitator. Kennedy said, " The person who told you that did me an injustice, and told you a wilful lie. I have never interviewed any members concerning the working of the institution." At that time, I had been informed by two of the attendants that he had done so. On going my rounds the following morning, Kennedy said he was suffering from an injustice in not having charge attendant's wages. He wanted to know who gave the doctor the information. He had been interviewed, he said, by influential men in town with regard to Dr. Levinge's moral character, and that if I did not tell him (Kennedy) I was no man. Attendants have at various times stated to me that Kennedy wished them to sign petitions for some correspondence he wished to make. They reported this to me, and I reported it to the doctor. I did not take any notes because I did not attach any importance to the matter until I saw it in the public Press. It was reported to me that Kennedy had got up a petition to members with regard to these grievances, and that he had approached various attendants to sign it, and that some had objected to do so. It was also reported to me that Kennedy had attempted to form a union with a view to taking common action, if necessary; and that he had attempted to induce attendants to sign a round-robin promising to support by their evidence the statements made by a deputation that waited on the Minister at Wellington, as reported in the Lyttelton Times. This was reported to me by one of the attendants. A female attendant also reported that Kennedy had sent through Attendant Christiansen a petition for her to sign ; the female attendant's name was Miss Walls. It was reported to me by a patient that Kennedy visited the bakehouse and hud a conference with the baker the week before last— a day or two before a certain report appeared in the Lyttelton Times concerning the baker's hours of duty. Kennedy told me himself that he had been instrumental in getting up a testimonial for Attendant Thornton immediately after he was dismissed. Dr. fjevinge (to Mr. Kennedy): I propose to prove that you have been untruthful —viz., (1) your denial that you waited on Mr. Witty as one of the deputation, and (2) your denial to me the other day when I suspended you, that you had been in the bakehouse. You are untrustworthy because you are untruthful. Witness (to Mr. Kennedy): It was reported to me by an attendant, a few days after the depu tation, that you were one of this deputation to Mr. Witty. Both Truman and Bowen reported to me that you were present at this deputation. They were both present themselves. Bowen spokfi of it in the mess-room, and said he did not care who knew he was there. A patient named Stevens reported that you had been in the bakehouse last Saturday week, the 27th August. Richard Truman examined. Witness (to Dr. Levinge): I went with Kennedy and others to wait on Mr. Witty and Mr. Lewis. (To Mr. Kennedy): Coulson and Bowen and several others were there also I told the Head Attendant that we had had such a deputation, because Kennedy told me that the Medical Superintendent had accused him of going to the members, and that he had denied it, This took place the morning after. [Witness afterwards corrected this statement by saying that he had intended to state that the matter was reported to him some time afterwards.] I do not know of any other deputation previous to the one referred to. I reported the matter more than once. Dr. Levinge here said that on the occasion when he had Kennedy in his office he had good reason to believe he was an agitator. Kennedy denied this indignantly, and said he was falsely accused. When charged with waiting on Mr. Witty he absolutely denied that he had done so. Attendant Newport was present at this interview, and would be asked if he recollected Kennedy's denial. Mr. Kennedy asked Dr. Levinge if he recollected the exact words used. Dr. Levinge: I asked you if you had waited on Mr. Witty, or words to that effect; I do not lemember the exact words. You denied it. Ido not know whether there were any other members: my information was that Mr. Witty was there. Attendant Newport (to Dr. Levinge): I was present on the occasion referred to when Kennedy denied having waited upon Mr. Witty. (To Mr. Kennedy) : I do not remember the exact words. Dr. Levinge: It was reported to the Head Attendant that Kennedy had been in the bakehousa the week before last. When charged with this, Kennedy said, "No, not to my knowledge." I pointed out to him that he could hardly have forgotten it, and urged him to be careful —that I had evidence to the contrary. He absolutely denied it: he quibbled for some time by saying, " not to my knowledge," " not to my recollection " ; and when I straightened him up to be careful he absolutely denied.