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260
Intensely disappointed at the Commission's persistent failure to recognize
the modern concepts in philanthropy which he had so long and so earnes tly
advo cated, yet still resolute and undaunted, Hall leapt once more to the
assistance of the weak and helpless in a fearless, disciplined condemnation
of the "strange statements and rash conclusions" in the report wh ich were
not sustained by the evidence.
Though he had strongly criticized the
findings of Commissions before, this time his judgment was keener, his
patience less , and his anger and disgust at the failings of officials
obvious to all.
The second paragraph of the report makes the apology of
'1limited period allowed for a general enquiry'' for its very
superficial researches , but yet does not hesitate to make
assertions and insinuate objections of the most momentous
nature to the we ll being of the charities in question,
though announcing at the same time a strong opinion adverse
to the principle of Board Management . As this opinion
could not be founded on any evidence before the Commission,
for none such exists , we have undoub ted proof that all the
Commissioners who signed that report , without protest , were
prejudicial persons to begin with.
Above all, Hall's censure emphasized in no uncertain terms , for the first
time, the injustice and evil inherent in the Parliament 's careless,
ignorant, or even intentional selection of the Commission of Enquiry 's
personnel and the dire effects to a community of a carelessly compiled
report based on insufficient and prejudicial evidence.
Indeed, it was
time Parliament took a new look at its own attitudes , official procedures ,
and the activities of its paid servants .
By February 2, 1864 , however , it was evident that Hall's efforts
on behalf of the Orphan chi ldren had borne fruit.
At a ceremony of
distribution of prizes gained at the annua l education exam, Hall, in justice
to the Medical Officer, Smart, drew the attention of the Governor to the
healthy, happy- looking faces before them and stated that the desire of his
heart had been fulfilled, for the children in the institution were now
healthier than the chi ldren of corresponding ages out of it .
day he supplied the statistics to the Mercury:
The fo !lowing
Had the nineteen years ' average rate of mortality existed on
the increased numb er of children in the institution in 1863
(500 , E.H.) the deaths would have been eighteen instead of
two. Sixteen children, therefore, escaped the sentence to
a lingering death which in former times was the doom of children
sent to the Queen 's Orphan Schools . The deaths inflicted on
the vilest criminals in the colony,- on the average of many years
past, have not been nearly so many . The death rate of