|
|
Allegations
of Abuse in Institutions |
|
I was pleased to see
the article, headed "Ex-Sallies boy backs church" (August 23), and
I respect Mr Parker's stand on this matter. I would hate to see the
good work New Zealand's 120-year-old Salvation Army and other organisations
do over-shadowed by the hype that I'm sure will occur over the current wave
of "abuse" accusations. I know a lot of the men
who once lived in the Eltham home for boys, and we have to acknowledge that
this organisation took over the role of parents when circumstances meant
families had to be separated, in some cases for many years. Times have changed.
What is now considered abuse was, in that era, accepted discipline, whether
in the home or school. We were disciplined with the strap or, in my case, a
stick of supplejack. The local policeman tugged at my ear and booted my
backside, and, if I went home and told my Dad, another kick would follow from
him. Many children started
work at 5am, milking cows, walking to school, and milking again when they got
home. Should we now be calling this "child slave labour"? No, we
worked because that was expected of us. I attended a New
Plymouth school where a teacher put tacks in the end of the strap and hit the
boys until their wrists bled. Perhaps we should now sue the Education
Department. I hope all the lawyers
who are rubbing their hands in glee will find someone else to pick on. To all those who
attended such orphanages, I presume it was the last place you wanted to be,
but I wonder where you and your families would be today if not for this care.
|
