10

R. -7a.

S. W. KELLY.

Thursday, Bth September, 1904. Dr. Levinge said he considered the Head Attendant should be present, inasmuch as the matter concerned affected him (the Head Attendant). He had had practically no communication with the attendants, and, of course, Mr. Kennedy had; and what information he (Dr. Levinge) had got had been mainly through the Head Attendant. He would be glad if Mr. Beetham would take n note of his objection to the absence of the Head Attendant. Mr. Beetham said he would take a note of the objection, but that he could not see his way to break through a well-recognised rule of Court procedure. S. W. Kelly examined. Witness (to Mr. Kennedy): I do not think the part you took in this agitation was more prominent than your position as senior attendant, and one who has been here for ten years, warranted you in taking. I have signed several petitions and round-robins that have been got up. I signed them of my own free will, because the statements made therein met my case. A document of the character referred to in the cutting from the Lyttelton Times of the 3rd September, 1904 [handed in as an exhibit, and marked A], was posted up in the mess-room. I did not sign it because I did not agree with it. I signed the previous one to Mr. Witty, saying that I agreed with the statement of attendants' grievances, and offering to stand by that statement before a Royal Commission. Ido not think at all that your behaviour, as far as I have known it, has been calculated to cause unrest or dissatisfaction amongst the attendants. I do not think that you deserve the term "agitator." I have never known you to be untruthful nor neglectful of your duties. The dissatisfaction with regard to the conditions of work existed previous to the petitions being got up. The petitions and round-robins were not the cause of the dissatisfaction. (To Dr. Levinge): I have been here eighteen months. You have never found fault with me about my work, or censured me at any time. You have never spoken severely to me or reprimanded me. Our dissatisfaction consisted in that we wanted more pay and shorter hours. I have n<> personal dissatisfaction with your treatment of me. Mr. Kennedy asked Mr. Beetham if it were within the scope of this inquiry to go into the nature of the grievances. Mr. Beetham said, Certainly not. William Owens, Attendant, examined. Witness (to Mr. Kennedy): I have been three years employed at the Asylum. Ido not think you have taken a more prominent part in connection with this agitation than your position and length of service justify. I signed several of the petitions and round-robins sent from here to the Minister and to others. ] read them, understood them, and quite agreed to what 1 was signing. I signed of my own free will, knowing what I was signing. I approved of the statements contained in the petitions. I did not sign the petition referred to in the Lyttelton Times of the 3rd September, because I did not agree with it. I signed the round-robin to Mr. Witty and other members, agreeing with the statement of attendants' grievances, and promised to stand by that statement in the event of an independent Commission of Inquiry being set up. I did not see any signatures at all on the petition. Mr. Kennedy asked the witness if he thought his (Kennedy's) behaviour was of a kind calculated to cause the attendants to be dissatisfied with their lot, Mr. Beetham: What we want to get at, Mr. Kennedy, is the part }-ou took. What you have asked the witness can only be a matter of individual opinion. We are not concerned with opinions, but with facts. Witness (to Mr. Kennedy): There was agitation and unrest before these documents were got up. Ido not think the petitions in themselves caused unrest. (To Dr. Levinge): The attendants are agitating for their rights — i.e., shorter hours, and more pay, and a Board of Appeal. We wanted our positions improved. To my knowledge, this agitation has been going on for two years; it was going on when I came here. Very nearly all the attendants are dissatisfied; I am dissatisfied. You have reprimanded me twice —on one occasion shifting me on to night duty. I was told by the Head Attendant that there was a better man put in my place —one with more experience. To me this was a grievance. There was nothing else about which I was reprimanded. lam back in the garden now. I was about eighteen months on night duty. I have been married since I came here. (To Mr. Kennedy): I never found you untruthful in any way. Andrew Porter examined. Witness (to Mr. Kennedy): I do not think you have taken any more prominent position in regard to this agitation than was justified by your position on the staff and your length of experience; I think you were entitled to take any part. I do not think this agitation has caused any unrest or dissatisfaction; the unrest existed before the agitation started. I saw the petition referred to in the Lyttelton Times of the 3rd September, 1904. It was posted up in the messroom. I did not sign it, because 1 did not agree with it. I signed the round-robin that was sent to Mr. Witty and other members of Parliament, agreeing with the statements made by the members at the deputation to Mr. Hall-Jones, and offering to substantiate these statements" by evidence. I read this document and signed it of my own free will. I have never found you untruthful. (To Dr. Levinge): I agreed with the statements made in the round-robin I signed. I have been in the Asylum service over sixteen months. You have never found fault with me or censured me in any way. Ido not think this is the time or the place to express general dissatisfaction with the Medical Superintendent. I have no personal dissatisfaction with the Superintendent in connection with mv work.