THE SAMARITAN HOME TROUBLE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12966, 20 November 1907, Page 4

THE SAMARITAN HOME TROUBLE.

SPECIAL MEETING OF TRUSTEES. A special mr«ting of the Samaritan Horn© Board of was held yesterday afternoon for tho purpose of considering a notico of motion jriren by Mr C. Hastings Bridge to the effect that the services of tho matron and sub-matron should bo dispensed with. The notio© of motion was given as tho outcome of the action of the two officers named in refusing to carry out the 'instructions of the Chairman relative to the removal of one of the girl inmates from the Home to tho charge of the Te Oranga Home authorities. The member* of the Board present were: Messrs. F. J. Board C. Hastings Bridge, W. McMillan, B. P. Manhire, J. Hayes, H. B. SorenBen, and Mrs Wilson. The Chairman, in stating tho present position of affaire, said that through some misunderstanding between tho late chairman (Mr .Sorensen, ana this matron a special meeting was called for the pur]>ose of dealing with the matter. Mr Soronsen explained fully the nature qf the complaint that he lia-d to make against the matron, and tho matron and tho sub-matron were heard in defence. Tlie Trustees considered the matter, nnd came to the decision that the matron and sub-matron should bo Severely reprimanded for disobeying the ders of tho chairman, and that they should be informed that any future disobedience would result in instant dismissal. He would loavo it to Mr Bridje to n«y whether he was i"ustifio<l in introducing matters which ad beon considered by the previous chairman and tho Houao'Committee. Mr Hastings Bridge, in proposing his motion, said that the resignation or tho previous chairman nnd his motion wero intimately connected, and should have been considered together. It seemed to him that the _ Trustees were in a very great hurry indeed to accept the resignation of tlie chairman, and get that matter out of tho way before the other question came on. That was not treating tho former chairman with any very great amount of courtesy. The chairman, who was responsible to the Governernment, had been placed in an exceedingly false position. He considered the Trustees should either dismiss tho matron or ask her to send in her resignation. The work of the institution hod increased very materially of late, ©specially 6inco the Habitual Drunkards Act had come into force. Characters wore being sent to tho Homo who wero extremely difficult to deal with, and h© did not think the matron -was suitable to deal with those cases. Mr Sorensen, who seconded tlie motion, explained that ho had refrained from attending the last meeting in order that tho Trustees might bo free to disouss tho matter without the restraint of his presence. Ho took up tho position that no institution could be carried on when the officora flagrantly thwarted tho instructions of tho chairman. T*ho Trustees did not appreciate that, and he was consequently forced to resign hia position aa chairman. The Chairman Baid he had received the following communication from the matron, which showed that that lady courted the fullest enquiry: —"Since Mr Sorensen has stated that I have frequently defied the committee— although not to my knowledge—might I 3sk tho Board to thoroughly inveeti- | gate these charges, as it would be much more satisfactory to mc to have everything threshed out. I feel confident that I can give a reasonable explanation for any of my actione in the past- M. Early." Mr Hastings Bridge aaid < he„,J>crceived that hie motion would not 'be carried, but he felt sure that before long the Trustees would have to face an enquiry,, for tho nresent chairman might find' himself in the position of the late chairman. The motion wae then put and lost,, Measre Sorensen and Bridge end Mre Wilson voting for it, and Messrs Board, McMillan, Manhire and Hayes against it. The Chairman said that it would be, in tho interests of the work of the Home, and the work of the Trustees, and the House Committee would ' be best served, if the matter were allowed to drop altogether. Ho failed to see what good could come from continual agitation on the pert of some of the Trustees who appeared to hare mode up -their minds to be satisfied with nothing short of tho removal of the matron. The meeting then closed.