SEQUEL TO A COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 431, 13 February 1909, Page 14

SEQUEL TO A COMMISSION.

SUMMARILY DISMISSED. :, '•■■ iBITELkaEiri!.—SPECUL COIiItESPONDBNTI :,v - Christcnurch, February 12. Amongst {he witnesses at'the Te Oranga Home inquiry held in' March of last year was Miss Ada Harrisonj -a 'teacher employed at the institution. 'Miss Harrison, who criticised. tho ; management pf the , matron (Mrs. Branting), in several important respects) prefaced her evidence'by asking whether she would endanger, her. position by: appearing before the Commissioner."' She was reassured by, the. Commissioner,.and gave her evidence.' MissHarrison has now booh dismissed summarily, being given three months' salary" in lieu of' notice. ..No suggestion has been..made that her work has been'in any way urisatisfaqtoryv When she received nptice of. her dismissal she 'wrote;to : :th'e Education Department,' which' replied.'still making no eemplaiht against her 'work, .but stating'that in the interests of the institution .and the inmates it was.not desirable to retain an'officer: who was-out of sympathy;with; :tfie -matron.' The nature , .of the difference] of opinion -'ijhat has existed between Miss Harrison and. Mrs... Branting was indicated when at the inquiry Miss Harrison said that the matron was out of. sympathy with thoi school work of the 'institution. : . "The matron," she said, "would like to shorten, the work of -the. girls in-school; She does not -.think the school ,work as.important as I do.". Miss Harrison had previously stated.that she : objected'to' being required, to keep the girls idoii:n~to;a.fourth>standard level in , the matter jof'oducation; '•.'.lt ; : is understood : \lliss Harrison taking' steps 'to.'.scciire.v'the. full, j consideration:,of ,.ljpr : ., : casb,';-,; ;Th.e:<jnatter~ is '•likely;,ti-\be,,taken up.; ; by : the: Toachers' -Insti-. :tuto, an .organisation of. : .lyhich>she ! mem-