H.—2l.

88

[W. EEECE.

examination should only be undertaken by the Medical Officer. What is your opinion?—l think, probably, it would be as well if the Medical Officer made these examinations. I think it is a question involving more than the Matron, as a lay woman in medical matters, would be able to determine. 51. Then, of course, the Medical Officer would leave instructions with the Matron to make such periodical treatment as she thought desirable? —Yes. 52. You agree with me it should not be a question of expense in radical improvements affecting the wards of the State? —I certainly do; but I find it very difficult to impress that. Elizabeth Dean examined on oath. 1. Mr. Russell.] You are an attendant at this Home? —Yes, for twelve months. 2. From what you have seen of the Home during the twelve months, are the girls contented or discontented ?—Taking them as a whole, I should say they were contented. 3. Do they appear to be happy?— Yes. 4. Do they get plenty of time for play and recreation?—l think so. 5. Are they overworked or overdriven? —I am sure they are not. 6. Are they generally in high spirits, or the reverse? Are they full of fun and laughter, or gloomy and morose? —They are generally full of fun. 7. Are you good friends with the other members of the staff?— Yes. 8. There is no quarrelling of any kind?—No, I do not quarrel with the other members of the staff. 9. Do they quarrel with you? —No. 10. Do you all work and pull together for the common good?—I think so. 11. Are you good friends with the Matron as well? —Yes. 12. Are the children fond of her? —Yes. 13. Is there any member of the staff that the children have an aversion to?—I do not think so. 14. You have no knowledge of it if they have?— No. 15. Does the wood-chopping seem to knock the children up?—l do not think so. 16. In your opinion, is the food sufficient? —Yes. 17. Have you been here long enough to form the opinion that the girls are improved by being here? Are they less rough after they have been here a few months?—l have noticed a great improvement in a number of the girls. 18. In your opinion, is the Home beneficial to the girls?— Yes. 19. You know a girl named D D ?—Yes. 20. It was said yesterday that the Matron boxed that girl's ears. Have you ever seen her do that ?—No, I have not seen that. I took D D—— one day to the Matron because she had been very troublesome, and the Matron smacked her with the palm of her hand between the shoulders. 21. Was there any other occasion but one when that happened?— No. 22. Are you comfortably housed and fed?— Yes. 23. Do you find your hours too long?—No, I do not find the work too hard. 24. On these matters you have no complaint to make?— None whatever. 25. Apart from the question of classification, can you suggest anything which would tend to improve the Home in any way?—l would move some of the girls who give trouble away from the others. 26. The Commissioner.] How many girls of that class are there?— About a dozen. 27. Do you think if they were away there would be an improvement?—l found it so last week when seven or eight were separated from the others. 28. Mr. Salter.] Are you allowed by the Matron to inflict punishment upon the girls?— Yes; I have sent them to bed and given them dry bread. 29. Have you ever deprived them of any part of their meal as a punishment?— Yes; I have taken a piece from them at tea-time. 30. Have you ever sent them away from the table without their meal? —Never. 31. Do you always report to the Matron offences the girls commit?— Yes. 32. But you do not ask for her authority to punish them? —Not always, because sometimes the Matron is not there. 33. Have you ever sent girls into the passage at breakfast-time to learn their lessons whilst the other girls were sitting down to their breakfast? —I cannot remember just now having done so. I may have. 34. Has it been done?— Yes. 35. You cannot remember whether you yourself have done it?— No. 36. Then, after breakfast she is allowed to have hers? —When she has said her lesson. 37. Her breakfast would be cold then?— Not necessarily; it could be kept warm. 38. Is it? —I have often sent meals to be kept warm. 39. Always?— Not always. 40. The Commissioner.] What lessons have they not known?— Catechism and Sunday-school lessons. 41. Mr. Salter.] Do you think it is just to punish girls by keeping them from their meal in order to learn lessons like that?— Yes; they can say them, but it is only out of pure naughtiness they won't. 42. You do not think that by a little coaxing you could get them to learn them?—We tried coaxing at first. We do not send them out until we see they will not learn them. 43. Have you put girls in the cell at all?— Yes. 44. For what offence?—lmpudence and refusing to work. 45. And locked them in? —Yes.