H.- 7a.

15

JOHN KENNEDY,

which I received from Dr. Levinge at different times, one dated the 23rd April, 1898, and one dated the 28th April, 1900. They are as follows: — Prom the Medical Superintendent. 23rd April, 1898. To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. I certify that John K'nnedy has been an attendant in this Asylum since the 12th February, 1895, and has always borne a good character. He has been on night duty as a junior atcendant with a' other, and I have always found him trustworthy. The other testimonial, dated the 28th April, 1900, was given me since my removal from night duty (September or October, 1898). It is as follows: — Prom the Medical Superintendent, Ghristchurch Lunatic Asylum. To whom it may concern. I certify that John Kennedy has been an attendant at this Asylum since the 12 h February, 1895, and has borne an excellent character. Ho has been largely employed about the farm in charge of parties of patients working thereon and directing their labours, and I have found him careful, con.-cientious, and industrious. 11l 1902 1 was appointed Charge Attendant, a fact which, 1 think, shows that the doctor had continued confidence in me, and that he still considered me trustworthy. Mr. Kennedy here produced various other testimonials as to character, which he handed to Mr. Beetham for perusal. Mr. Beetham read these and returned them to Mr. Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy (continuing): 1 have always endeavoured to work amicably with the staff and with Dr. Levinge; 1 have never intentionally neglected my duty. 1 wish to state, in conclusion, that in my part in connection with this agitation I have been actuated by the purest of motives. 1 considered that great dissatisfaction has existed, and that the steps taken by me in conjunction with others were justified. 1 do not regret that in any way. I should do the same thing again under similar circumstances. (To Mr. Beetham): As a matter of fact, I did most of the writing of the petitions; some of the others did the copying. I, being the secretary, formed them and pieced them together, with the approval of the other attendants. Dr. Levinge: The petition to the Minister no one takes any exception to; the petition to members is a different thing altogether. The deputation to Mr. Witty was in June, 1903; the dale of the most recent petition (or round-iobin) was about the 26th or 27th of August. This also was addressed to Mr. Witty. With regard to the statement about his (Kennedy's) contradicting me about his interview with Mr. Witty: 1 would like to draw attention to Truman's statement on this point. [Statement read by Mr. Beethain.] Truman states that his reason for telling the Head Attendant on one occasion was that Attendant Kennedy had denied it to him. With regard to the interview in the bakehouse: he did not deny the interview in the morning. He denied it at first, and then hesitated, and said, "No, it was yesterday morning." I may have spoken warmly; 1 wanted to pull him together. I reminded him that if it had occurred within two or three hours he could not have forgotten it. He admitted it then. He speaks of his being on duty, and that therefore he could not have communicated with the Lyttelton Times reporter. The interview in the bakehouse was in the afternoon, and that is the interview that the baker acknowledged in the presence of Mr. Russell and Dr. Campbell. I did not produce Stevens's evidence until I had the corroboration of the baker. As regards his being appointed Charge Attendant: I have passed him over when his ordinary turn for promotion came, because I was not satisfied that he was sufficiently careful. 1 had many records in the books about his carelessness; 1 think I have more records against him than against, probably, any other attendant in the building. I passed him over for that and other reasons. He wrote me several letters and protested indignantly, and when a particular ward became vacant- the ward in which the bettei class of outdoor patients are stationed —I desired to give him a chance by promoting him to that position. I accordingly did so. His great grievance was that I passed him over, and put some one else in charge of the wai'd before I put him. This is a matter which, of course, has always been left to my individual judgment. It is not altogether a question of seniority ; it is a question of who is the most fit, and I exercised my judgment to the best of my lights. He protested that it was an injustice to him that, he had been passed over, and that his salary remained at £80 : he also wanted his salary increased in a manner contrary to the scale. That, no doubt, has rankled with him ever since. On one occasion when Dr. MacGregor, the Inspector, was here, I advised Kennedy to see him. He did so, but I heard no more about it. This, and being taken off night duty, are Kennedy's main grievances. I suppose he realised 1 was dissatisfied with him. I maintain that this has been the cause of his grievance, and his vindictive action ; and that is evidenced by his frequent complaints about his position and want of increase in salary. I still maintain that the agitation has had a twofold aspect. The one aspect has been with regard to hours of duty, salary, superannuation fund, Appeal Board, and so on ; and the other aspect has been regarding my management of the institution. These two aspects have not been disassociated ; they have been allowed to coalesce, so that it would appear that all the attendants are implicated in the general charge.

THE CASE OF CHARLES EDWARD DAVIS (BAKER). Thursday, Bth September, 1904. Dr. Levinge, to justify the dismissal of the baker, said: I gave the baker one month's notice after an investigation which has been already referred to, because I considered him untruthful, and not only untruthful but unsuitable. John Edmund Russell examined. Witness (to Dr. Levinge): Davis has been here about eight months, I think, speaking from memory. On engaging him, I told him the hours of duty, pay, &c.; he said he had come here with the intention of settling down, as he wanted to get a steady billet. He has complained from time to time about several things. First of all he complained about the ovens; another time about the wood ; another time about the trough; another time that the man he had assisting him was no good; he asked for racks, and also for a thermometer. He was always wanting something.