H.—2l.

114

[E. T. BBANTING.

302. Does that book contain, according to these regulations, a register of all corporal punishments ?—So far as I know. 303. Of all confinement in the cells? —Over three hours. 304. And of all continuous restriction of diet as indicated in this Regulation 122? —Yes, I think all continuous restriction of diet. 305. Are you sure?—So far as I know. 306. But no confinement in the cell for a shorter period than three hours has been entered there? —Never. 307. Why?. —It has never been done, and I thought the present regulation was the same as the old rule. 308. I think you have already said that some of the attendants have inflicted corporal punishments?— Yes. 309. Frequently?—No; very seldom. I nearly always do it myself. 310. When you have inflicted it yourself on several occasions, I think you have inflicted the maximum number of strokes ?—Yes. 311. Did it ever occur to you it might be advantageous, or a good thing, to try- a smaller number as a deterrent?— No. 312. Is it because the regulation gives you the privilege of inflicting twelve strokes that you gave twelve strokes? —No; because I thought they deserved twelve. 313. Now, there is a regulation which says that no inmate shall be punished more than once for the same offence. I believe the evidence shows that in some cases for the same offence you have put the offender in the cell for several hours, you have given her twelve strokes with the strap, and restricted her diet, as in the case of H M ?—Yes. 314. Is that not three separate punishments for the one offence? —I do not know. That is the ordinary punishment. 315. Surely if a girl receives twelve strokes of the strap that should be an end of the punishment so far as she is concerned. If in addition to that she is put in the cell and on to a restricted diet, that is three punishments for the one offence? —That is the usual thing. In addition to that, they have the runaway dress on for an indefinite period. 316. With regard to the punishment dress, the regulation says, " Punishment by the imposition of some badge of degradation or of some special article of dress may be inflicted, but not without the sanction of the Minister." Do you obtain the sanction of the Minister to use that form of punishment in every case?— No. 317. You simply got a general authority to use the punishment dress, and you use it at'your own discretion ? —Yes. 318. The Commissioner.] What do you mean by "general authority"?— Mr. Heywood wrote to the Department about it, and asked if I could put it on at my discretion. 319. Have you a record of it?— Yes. 320. I would like to see it, because it is evidence that the Department does not insist on compliance with its own regulations? —I will get it. 321. Mr. Salter.] Regulation 112 says, "Light shall not be excluded from any- cell to such an extent as to make it difficult for a person to read ordinary newspaper type; and when a cell is occupied a light shall be shown therein from dusk to daylight." I want to know whether that has been done when girls have been confined in the cell ?—Yes. There may have been occasions when no light was shown, but I do not know of them. 322. Do you take pains to see that this particular regulation is adhered to?—I certainly do. 323. What lamp is provided?—A hurricane lantern. 324. Where is that placed?—lt is put just outside the two cells, and it is there from dusk to dawn. 325. Would the light from that lantern be of any practical use to the inmate in the cell?—I think so. It certainly throws light into the cell. 326. C A swore that she was in the cell for a month, mostly- locked up—those are her own words ?—"-That is not true. 327. Have you, according to the regulations, obtained the sanction of the Stipendiary Magistrate, or two Justices of the Peace, or of the Minister for that punishment?— No. The girl could not stand it to begin with, and I am sure she never did it. 328. Do you make it a practice to obtain the necessary sanction where confinement has been for more than forty-eight hours? —Yes. 329. From whom?—l write to the Department. 330. Before you put the girl in the cell? —No. 331. If she'were in for more than forty-eight hours it would take more than forty-eight hours to get a reply from Wellington as to whether you could keep her in any longer ?—I generally write to the Department, and ask them to wire a reply. 332. Regulation 116 says, "In a reformatory any inmate may be confined in a cell for any period not exceeding one week, but if the period exceeds forty-eight hours the sanction of a Stipendiary Magistrate, a Justice of the Peace, or of the Minister must be previously obtained " : do you obtain the authority of either the Minister, or the Magistrate, oi of a Justice of the Peace to put a girl in a coll for more than forty-eight hours?—l have very seldom put a girl in the cell for more than forty-eight hours. That is a long time to be locked up. 333. G J says she was in the cell from the 2nd until the Bth of November?— That means spread over that time. 334. The punishment register says simply, "In cell from 2nd to Bth"?—That is in Miss Howden's handwriting. 335. Where would Miss Howden get her information from?—l do not know. lam quite certain G J was not shut in the cell all that time.