TE ORANGA HOME.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13828, 13 February 1909, Page 5

TE ORANGA HOME.

TEACHER 'DISMISSED. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURGH, Feb. 12. A sequel to the te Oranga Home enquiry is provided by the dismissal of Miss Ada Harrison; the teacher cmployed at the institution. At'the enquiry Miss Harrison criticised the management of ihb. matiion (Mrs Branting) in several important respects. She prefaced her' evidence by asking whether she", would endanger her position by. appearing; before the Commissioner. "I am,teacher here, and I want to remain," she said.. " Is.it the method of the Department: to' dismiss an officer without letting her know the complaint made against' her ?" She was reassured by the Commissioner, and gave her evidence. She has now been dismissed from her position under circumstances which seem to suggest a connection with what occurred at the enquiry. Miss Harrison has been dismissed summarily, being given three months' salary in lieu of notice. No suggestion has been made that her work has been in any way unsatisfactory. AVhen she received notice of dismissal, she wrote to the Education Department, asking why she had been, put out of her position, and in what respect her services had been unsatisfactory. She received, in reply, a letter from the Under-Secretary to the Department, still mating no complaint against her work, but stating in. the interest of the institution, and. the inmates, it was not desirable to.retain 'an officer who was. out of sympathy with the matron. The letter stated in effect that the teacher'had been dismissed because she could not agree with the matron on points,of policy.