H.—2l.

78

[A. MOOBHOUSE.

63. And if the State undertakes the duty you think the State should do it. properly?— Yes. 64. If you will let me have your statement in writing 1 should value it very much? —Yes. 65. It has been stated in the public Press that a certain girl was sent to the Hospital as a result of neglect: do you know anything about that case? —Yes, I think her name was E S . She was a girl who had run away from her situation, and had been scouring the country for three weeks, and living a very immoral life. She was brought back, here and punished. 66. How long after she got back was it when you saw her? —About ten days. 67. What was her physical condition then? —Mrs. Branting sent for me. The girl then had a high temperature, quick pulse, and general abdominal tenderness. She had been complaining of headache for a week before, and she was sick. J had not had the girl under observation before, and I could not say definitely what it was; but I saw it was something serious, and I said she must be removed instantly to the Hospital. I rang up the Hospital at once, and they said they would take her next day. I gave directions for her treatment and. removal to the first-class dormitory. An attendant stayed up all night with her, and treated her correctly, and the following day she was removed to the Hospital and made a good recovery. They could not say what it was at first, and then they said it was appendicitis. She had the symptoms for three days. 68. You would not blame any person for anything in connection with that?— Absolutely no one was to blame. 69. There is one thing that has always struck me in connection with the various institutions with which I have had to do. Theoretically, of course, they are all for reforming these young people, but we know as a matter of fact that in many instances they reach the age of twenty-one with very little reformation from a strictly moral point of view. Under our present law, whatever may have been the negative results of the reformation, these people have to be discharged at twentyone. Does that not strike you as a great waste of material and energy, and have you thought of any means by which this class, in which there has been an absolute failure of reformation, could be dealt with by the State after twenty-one? —I have not thought of that question. I think a great many are very much benefited, and lead very good lives, and make most excellent members of society. 70. Was E S in the cell when you visited her? Do you know what they call the cell here? —Yes, it is a nice airy little room, and gets plenty of sun. I would not mind sleeping in it at all. But for the mere name of cell, there could be no objection at all to it. 71. It is a room in the institution used for the purposes of a cell? —Yes. It is lighted from above. 72. You could not see anything dangerous to a girl's health through being in the cell?— No. It is no worse than locking a girl in her bedroom, except that it is bare of furniture. The girl had a very comfortable shake-down. When I saw her the door was open and the sun was streaming in. The girl had a cup of milk beside her, and the Matron told me she encouraged the staff to visit the girl. 73. You would not connect her condition with anything that, happened in the cell?— Not at all. She was better in the cell, where she was away from all the noise of- the institution, than she would have been in the general dormitory. 7.4. Are you in favour of the deprivation of food as a form of punishment? —No. It is very unwise. 75. And it is not done under your orders? —Certainly not. The following suggestions were subsequently received from Dr. Alice Moorhouse re classification : — Dear Sir,— Christchurch, 21st March, 1908. Concerning the classification for suitable management and training of the inmates of Te Oranga Home, I think that there should be four classes, i.e., — Class IV, or the Probationary Class, where all girls should be placed on admission to the institution and remain under supervision until the Matron can decide into which class the girls should be placed. Class 111, where all the girls who are really viciously bad and immoral should be placed, so tha/b they can be kept from harming the other girls in body or mind, and also be kept under strict discipline and supervision, until they have shown themselves fit, to be advanced to Class 11. Class 11, for a slightly better class of girl to be placed, and girls from Class 111 to be moved as a reward for general improvement andgood conduct. Class I, for those girls who have really improved, and who are almost fit to go out into service. Privileges and pocket-money to increase in each class from Class 111 upwards to Class I, so as to be an inducement for the girls to try and improve and work up to the first class. If prizes were given in each class for good conduct, the best-made cakes and scones, the bestkept garden, the best sewing and darning, it would give the girls an interest in their work. I think that a proper scale of punishments should be printed and placed in each dormitory, so that the inmates may know that for a certain fault a definite punishment follows—for instance, if a girl absconds, or attempts to do so, her hair should be cut and kept short for one month. This would appeal to their vanity, and prevent many from trying to run away. For the above classification, extra accommodation would have to be built: but this could be arranged now as the proposed new buildings have not been started.—Yours faithfully, Mr. Bishop. Alice Moorhouse. Clara Mills examined on oath. 1. Mr. Russell.] You have been an attendant at Te Oranga for how long?— Six years. 2. Are you comfortable here? —Oh yes. 3. Have you any complaints or suggestions to make in regard to your own comfort?— No. 4. How do you get on with the other members of the staff ?—Very well.