H.^-21.

80

[C. MILLS.

troublesome in the laundry, and acting on Matron's instructions I put her in the cell. That afternoon I was out, and it was 5.30 before I got in, and I had to take tea. Then I had to get my own tea. Later on I heard her knocking. I went out about 7.30. She said she had not had her tea. I told her she must go to bed, and that I would take it up to her, and I did so. The fact of the matter is that the girl did not get her tea when she ought to have got it. That is the only occasion. 49. How long ago is that? —Last January. 50. Mr. Salter.] Did you not put this girl J L in the cell on the 12th November and forget all about her?—l do not remember putting her in except on the two times I have mentioned. 51. Do you remember on one occasion putting her in for the whole day and forgetting about it until tea-time ?—I do not remember anything of the sort. 52. Do you remember that at tea-time a knocking was heard, and you said, " Oh, that is J , I have forgotten all about her? "-—I only remember the two times. I cannot remember any other. 53. Was she not in the cell for two days in succession?—l have no recollection of it. 54. Do you sometimes have to send for the Matron to the laundry ?—Yes; on this occasion I had to send for her. 55. Will you swear that when you have sent for the Matron to the laundry and complained of a girl's conduct the Matron has not boxed her ears ?—I have never seen the Matron once box their ears since I have been here. I should have known it was an unlawful thing, because I know it is against the rules. 56. Did you not consider you were entitled to the position of Sub-matron ?—The position here is different from that of other places where I have been. 57. Did you not complain when Miss Hunt was appointed to the position of Sub-matron that you had not been appointed?—l spoke about it. I thought I ought to have been Sub-matron, and I had an interview with Mr. Pope, and he explained matters to my satisfaction. 58. What hours do you work?—l work from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m., and I have an afternoon and evening a week 59. Have you any complaint to make about the hours being too long?— No. 60. The Commissioner.] Do you think they are too long?— They were shorter hours than I was used to before I came here, and I do not think I ever complained. 61. Do you think they entail any undue hardship upon the staff? —We are all very tired when it comes to 8 o'clock. Igo to bed directly after the girls are in bed. I suppose, really, we are tired. It is not the actual work, but the strain outside, I find most tiring. 62 Mr. Salter.] Do I understand that you made some complaint, and, in fact, grumbled that you had more to do, and that Miss Hunt had practically nothing to do, or words to that effect?—l do not remember. 63. Have you ever spoken to Miss Howden about, your work? —I do not know. Miss Howden was always complaining about her own work, I may have done so. 64. Did you ever say anything to this effect: that the Department would kick up a fine row if they knew Miss Hunt did no morning work?—l do not remember making use of those words. 65. You know a girl named E S ?—Yes. 66. Do you remember her coming back from Timaru?—Yes. 67. In what condition was her health? —She had starved herself before coming back. 68. Was she ill?— Not so far as I knew. 69. You know that shortly after a doctor was sent for to attend to her?—lt was a week or more after. 70. Did you hear the Matron say this girl had been starved whilst she was away, and that she was ill when she came back?—No, I never heard the Matron say that. 71. You are quite sure you did not mention to some of the staff that the Matron had said this about the girl being ill? —The girl was not ill when she came back. She told me on the following Sunday morning that she felt ill. I gave her a very hot bath, under the Matron's instructions, and afterwards the Matron made a pack for her head. 72. Did you think she was in a fit condition when she arrived back from Timaru to be strapped?—l think so. There was nothing wrong with her. She was out on the Saturday night in the front with Miss Dean, who was hosing the garden ; so if she had been sick she could not have been there. 73. Some girls have complained of the way you speak to them. Ts it your habit to be prettyrough with the girls?—l am not rough. If I was rough I should not be able to control them. When I ask them to do a thing I always say to them "If you please," and when they have done it I always say " Thank you." Ido that to teach them manners. 74. You know it has been said Miss Howden made some statements about the Home? —Yes. 75. Did you tell the Matron she had better keep these things hanging over Miss Howden's head, as an inquiry might be held, and that Miss Howden had found out a few things since she had been here? —No, I never said that. 76. Have the girls ever complained to you about their bread and dripping and bread and jam?— No. 77. Have you ever heard the Matron speaking of the girls in a disrespectful manner? —No, I have not. 78. Or of them?— No. 79. The Commissioner.] What suggests itself to you as being the crying need of the institution in the matter of accommodation? —We want another building for classification. 80. What suggests itself to you as the extra accommodation required? —I have never thought of that. If we had another building to put the worst girls in, then we could do a lot with the others. Some of the girls ought to be away from the younger ones.