THE HUTT CONVENT SCHOOL TROUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 316, 1 October 1908, Page 7

THE HUTT CONVENT SCHOOL TROUBLE.

ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD'S VIEWS. (To the Editor.) • Sir, —It is not customary, nor would it be wise, for Catholic bishops to discuss or justify, in the public press, the measures they take for tho good government of their dioceses, and of tho religious orders within their jurisdiction; still,, a few words by way of exception, to rectify tho ideas of public opinion, which is now being misled, may be expedient on tho question of tho removal of tho teaching staff of tho Catholic schools in Potona_ and Hutt. It is obvious to any impartial mind, as a matter' of principle, that the best interests of Catholic education in the metropolis and the archdiocese at large, incomparably outweigh any feelings of regret in a small section of the Catholic community. But it so happens fortunately that tho present measure is advantageous to the Catholic schools of Wellington, to tho Sisters of Mercy, and to the parishes of Hutt and Potone. It is advantageous—nay necessary— to tho Catholic schools in Wellington (those of Blenheim - and Palmerston North also added) to concentrato tho teaching power of the Sisters of Mercy in them, so that they may be better staffed and more efficient. It is advantageous—nay necessary again—to tho Sisters of Mercy that they should not be overworked, that their honour as teachers should be safeguarded, their health preserved, the thorough formation of their nofices secured and improved, and their general happiness much promotod. Finally,, it is advantageous to tho parishes of Hutt and Petone, because instead _of having their schools taught by Sisters in daily visits from Wellington—with great inconvenience to tho'health of the Sisters, the_ efficiency of the teaching, and general roligious discipline—they will be taught by a permanently established community, equal in efficiency and devotedness to tho former teachers, and by residence and visitation, able to do much good, which in the present circumstances the' Sisters of Mercy could not possibly attempt. That some Catholics at Hutt and Petone should regret the departure of tho Sisters of Mercy is natural and honourable to their senso of gratitude; but let their sympathy stop there, because further agitation will bo quite useless, and hostile to the best interests of, their schools and of the Order of Mercy. _ Such being tho state of the case, tho Archbishop on September 23 authoritatively settled it finally. In a letter of that date to the Rev. Mother Superior, whilo exprossing'his high appreciation and grateful thanks for past services in tho above parishes—ho as Archbishop and paramount superior—notified to her and her community that the pormission hitherto granted by him for her to supply the teaching staff in tho schools of Hutt and Petono was withdrawn, except foritho period extending from that date to tho end of tho schoolastic year; that thenceforth tho teaching staff of tho above schools would ho furnished by a new community of nuns, which, by tho authority of tho Holy See, the Archibshop would establish permanently in Petono and Hutt; that any just pecuniary claims' which her community might have in the said places, arising from land, or buildings, or otherwise, would bo duly settled in accordance with justice; and that this decision was final.—l am, etc., FRANCIS REDWOOD, Archibshop of Wellington.