United Charitable Aid Board.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5552, 25 February 1886, Page 3

United Charitable Aid Board.

♦ THIS DAY. A special meeting of the United Charitable Aid Board of the District of North Canterbury waß held in the Provincial Council Chambers, this afternoon, at halfpast one ; present — Mr E. Beetham (Chairman), and Messrs W. White, junr., F. Jones, A. Ivory, H. Toomer, E. Westenra, C. Louisson, W. Vincent, E. Moore, and J. Forrester. The Chairman said the business was to receive and deal with the recommendations of the Orphanage Committee as to the appointment of a Master and Matron for Mr Joyce said there was a deputation from the Lyttelton Borough Council who, however, wished to hear the letter that had been sent to Mr Ritchey beforo explaining their business. The Chairman saw no reason why the letter should not be read. Mr Louisson thought the deputation appeared to wish to act as judges. They ought first to lay their statement before the Board. He would have no objection, of course, to hear any deputation, but thought that it was not the place of a deputation to assist the Board in their deliberations. Mr Joyce said the deputation had not been supplied with any information, but had been advised to wait upon the Board. Mr Forrester, to facilitate matters, moved -r-" That the deputation be heard after tho letter to Mr Ritchey had been read." Mr Vincent believed that Mr Joyce knew what the contents of the letter to Mr Ritchey wore. Mr Joyce had spoken on behalf of tho deputation. Mr White had no objection to the deputation hearing the Board's reasons. Mr Ritchey was present, and perhaps wished to make a statement. That gentleman had ignored the Committee, and now came to the Board. He (Mr White) hoped that everything would be brought before the Board so that the public might judge from all the circumstances. Mr Jonea seconded tho motion, which was agreed to. Mr March then read the following letter from the Board to Mr Eitchey : — " Charitable Aid Office, " Christchurch, Feb. 24, 1886. " Sir, — In answer to your request, conveyed in your letter of Feb. IG, addressed to the Orphanage Committee, to he informed of the reason the Committee had recommended that your services should be dispensed with, the Committee has to state that on first taking office it had no other wish than to work in the most friendly manner possible with you, consistent with our relative positions. As might be expected at the outset of assuming office, the Committee was desirous of obtaining from you all the information relative to the institution which waß in any way available, but found that repeated application had to be made to you for the different items of information required, and the information when furnished was incomplete and unsatisfactory, while it took over Bix weeks to obtain a simple inventory of the contents of the Orphanage, to which was attached a memorandum of a most objectionable character, the tone of which, in conjunction with its previous experience, convinced the Committee there was no hope of proper control over the institution being maintained by the Board whilst you remained master of it. For tho above reason alone, the Committee was reluctantly compelled to advise the Board accordingly. " I have the honour to be, Sir, " Your obedient servant, (Signed) "J. E. March. " T. H. Eitchey, Esq., " The Orphanage, Lyttelton." It was decided that the discussion on this should be taken in the open Board. Mr F. Jones moved—" That Mr Ritchey be allowed to address the Board in explanation." Mr Forrester seconded this. Mr White had no objection, but thought it would have been better had Mr Ritchey committed his reply to writing. There certainly had not been much time. The Chairman suggested that possibly Mr Eitchey had his reply in writing. Mr Westenra explained that both Mr White and himself were at the Harbour Board meeting on Tuesday, and could not leave it till close on five o'clock. Mr Vincent, who had waited some time, hai then to leave. A meeting of tho Committeee could not then be held till yesterday. Mr Vincent said that the reply of the Committee was sent by special messenger, so aa to lose no time. The motion was agreed to. Mr Eitchey said that he had received the letter only at half-past nine last night. He could not write his reply till half-past ', eleven this morning, and consequently not ' in time for the Committee, to whom he had : had no wish to show any discourtesy. !■ Besides, he had understood that he was ' expected to be present at thiß meeting. He would now read the reply he had written, i It was as follows : — ,' " The Chairman and Members of the Canterbury Orphanage, and the Members i of the North Canterbury Hospitable and Charitable Aid Board. j " Gentlemen, — " Your memo, of the 24th inst, containing reason given by the Orphanage Committee for my dismissal from the position

luujy.i mn»m»tve*>iiKtentrsiem woM^itgrjarairaMaawttPira'"* of Master of the Canterbury Orphanage, arrived to hand this evening. In reply thereto I beg respectfully to submit that the entire natter ia the result of misapprehension on my part, and the want of a simple understanding, never asked for, on the part of the Coniaiittee. " The simple facts I now put before you for the first time, not having had an opportunity previously to explain them. Since Nov. 20 my assistant, Mr Cattorick, has been incapacitated entirely from any of the work of the institution. ; " As you may be aware, the staff engaged I in the discipline of the Orphanage consists ; of Mr Catterick and myself, with the school- [ mistress during school hours. With the withdrawal of Mr Catterick, disappeared, therefore, all disciplining assistance, and I , had consequently to undertake the entire : active work and supervision of the institution. " That is to say, my work in detail would consist as follows -.—6.30 a.m. — See boys out of bed, washed, boots cleaned. 7.30 — Inspect every child in the institution to see cleanliness, &c, prayers. B— Attend with children to breakfast. B.3o— My own breakfast. 9 — Serve out stores and attend to sick children. 9.2o— lnspect cleaning of entire premises. 9.30 to 12— Manage the school. 12.15 — Children's dinner, which I have to attend. 12.45 — My own dinner. 1.30 to 3.3o— Manage the school. 3.30 to s— Recreation, attend with boys to workshops. Twice a week see boys bathed. Twice a week take them out for a march. s—Attend5 — Attend at childrens' tea. 5.45 — My own tea. 7— Prayers. Singing twice a week. I take children to this myself. B— See every child in bed. 10.30 — Final round for night. This, gentlemen, is the daily routine I have had to go through since Nov. 20, and I have done it all myself. When lam unavoidably absent Mrs Eichey undertakes any duty I have undone. "At the time you charge me with not furnishing prompt returns aaked for by you, I was also engaged in various other matters, such as getting in contributions j for our ' Christmas and Private Fund,' squaring up all Government accounts, and in other ways endeavouring to prepare tho institution for the incoming Committee. ! " With reference to the accusation that ! the Secretary had to make repeated applications to me for different items of information you required, I respectfully state that I supplied the information closely to the wordiDg of the memorandum I received. On several occasions, I presume to say, the terms of your communications did not cxi plicitly convey to me the exact meaning t you desired; but on my understanding precisely what was required, I have endeavoured to convey answers meeting your approval. In this connection I would respeotfully submit to you that if the meetings of the Committee had been held at the Orphanage, or had I been permitted to be in attendance at your meetings, I would have on all occasions fully comprehended and satisfied your wishes. " I would remind you, gentlemen, that as part of the office work of this Institution, and, consequently, a portion of its records were kept at the Charitable Aid Office in Christchurch, I could not at all times furnish you, of myself, with complete informatioi) or full replies to your memoranda. " With regard to the note unintentionally attached to my returns, and which you characterise 'as a memorandum of a most objectionable character,' I beg most respectfully to say that aa it was addressed to Mr March privately, and not to the Secretary of the Board, but was a memo, from one officer to another, Ido not see how the Committee can at all recognise it as addressed to them. I here insert a copy so that you may allow me to explain. "Copy:— " 'Mr March,— Your deluge of work I have found impossible to overtake in the manner I should like to have done it. While the book (cash ledger) is in your hands you might have my band fund copied if you want it. " '{I do hope no more extraordinary office work will be wanted, as I really cannot get through my work now, till 1 or 2 in the morning. "'Yours faithfully, " ' Geo. H. Ritchey." "From the fact, gentlemen, of this memo being written on a slip of waste paper, entirely contrary to my ÜBual custom, and omitting Mr March's official designation, I claim and I think with justice, that it was never intended for the eyes of the Board. I, therefore, cannot be said from this to be disrespectful to the Committee. I would respectfully ask that all the letters I have written to the Committee should be inspected by the Board, in order to ascertain if the charge of disrespect can be sustained. With reference to my want of promptitude in furnishing you with |an inventory of all the. property belonging to the Institution, I beg to state that I furnished you with an inventory, which was not classified as you liked, and that then I had to reclassify the articles and forward to you I did not apprehend that an inventory was a documont of such great importance ; and when I state that during the period mentioned I have written considerably over 100 sheets of paper to you, I do not know how it can be said I have been tardy in the execution of my work officially. Since Jan. 13 to Feb. 13 I have forwarded you various matters covering eighty pages of my press copybook, which I produce, and i( your Board can find anything disrespectful or derogatory therein, I will unhesitatingly say I have deserved severe admonition. Previous to the Committee assuming office I had furnished MiMarch with nearly the whole, of the information since asked at different times, Mr March having anticipated that Buch would be required. You will see, gentlemen, from the foregoing statements, that it cannot have been my intention to treat the Committee with disrespect ; that my military training prohibits the thoughts of insubordination ; and that no one respects subordination more than a disciplinarian, which I claim to be. That I have Btriven to the best of my ability to do all the work the Committee have given me, compatible with my other duties ; and that if the Committee had been good enough to inform me in what way any of the returns furnished were incomplete or unsatisfactory, I would have endeavoured, as far as I was able to comply with their instructions. In conclusion, I would say that it has been my most earnest wish to work with the Committee, or under their instructions, for the benefit of the Institution in which I have j taken so deep an interest, and I here humbly apologise for anything, omission ! or commission, your Committee may have deemed me guilty, and humbly pray that your favourable consideration may be j given towards my re-instatement in the mastership of the Canterbury Orphanage. " I am, gentlemen, " Your most obedient servant, " Theo. H. Eitchey." " P.S. — The late hour I received the reason of my dismissal may have prevented | me pressing some point which I may have j neglected." j Mr White asked if the statement would be left with the Board ? Had the Orphan age Committee received it, they would have been prepared with answers to it. Tho Chairman said of course the statement was tho property of the Board. Mr Joyce introduced Messrs Gardener and Stinson, members of the Lyttelton Borough Council, who stated that they did not wish a worse man to be put in the place of Mr Ritchey. The Borough Council would pay JEIOO and take over the institution. Mr Joyce explained that the people of Lyttelton wished legislative action to be taken to secure the institution to the Council of Lyttelton. After Mr Eitchey's explanation the deputation were willing to leave the matter to the wisdom of the : Board. i The Chairman assured the deputation ' that their views would be duly considered. Tho deputation then withdrew, i Mr Jones thought that Mr Eitchey's explanation had put matters on a totally ! different footing. He had explained an ' apparent discourtesy to the Committee, and had apologised to the Board for anything objectionable that he might have appeared to have dene. The management of the

Orphanage had been highly spoken o£ by the Rev Mr Habens, tho Hon Eobert Stout, Mr J. C Eichinond, and others. All , this showed that in the hands of Mr Eitchey the management had been most satisfactory. After Mr Eitchey's explana- ; tion, the Board having vindicated its position, he (Mr Jones) thought a fresh start might be made with Mr Eitohey. The ' Board could not do better than reinstate : that gentleman. The appointment would be a new one, to be governed by any rules • and regulations drawn up by the Comj mittee. He (Mr Jones) was inclined to j think that the Committee would have no J difficulty in dealiDg with Mr Ritchey. j The Board had the name Charitable, ! and might well act with charity ! towards its own officers. He would like a : resolution to come from a member of the Cotnuiittee, but failing that he would himself move a resolution to this effect : " That the Board having vindicated the authority of the Committee in regard to the position of tho master of j tho Orphanage, and now having heard the explanation of Mr Eitchey with reference to the objectionable memorandum referred to in the correspondence, accompanied by Mr Eitchey's apology for an act of omission or commission on his part, wishes the Committee to rearrange with Mr Eitchey to continue in his office at the Orphanage." Mr Forrester seconded the motion. He certainly thought the present state of the Institution was a credit to the Master. He trusted that the Board would give Mr Eitchey an opportunity for reinstating himself. Among the applicants now before the Committee he believed few or none were equal to Mr Ritchey. Mr White thought that the Board on the spur of the moment were scarcely treating with courtesy the Committee who had considered the whole matter very fully. It ■would be for the good of the Orphanage, the gf)od of the Board, and the good of the whole concern that Mr Ritchey should not be reinstated. He thought that the statement of Mr Eitchey should have been referred to the Committee. The returns made by Mr Kitchey were still incomplete. The inventory of the book 3 was undated, and did not say what it was. The memo attached to it, said to be private, was the only date to the document. The mover and seconder of the proposal implied that Mr Eitchey was right and the Committee were wrong. The Chairman did not think the resolution went so far as that. Mr White reiterated that the Committee had not been fairly treated. Their sole desire was that tho institution and the children should be properly and economically cared for. As to Mr Eitchey's qualifications as a teacher, his certificate was an E3. If "the Board were going to treat the Committee a3 now proposed, it would be better for the Board to appoint another. The Chairman thought it only reasonable that the statement should be remitted to the Committee. Mr Louisson had intended to move a resolution when Mr Jones moved his. It was in the direction of leaving the matter to the Committee, recommending the Committee to be guided by published opinions on the management of the Orphanage. He would move — "That this Board, having heard Mr Eitchey's explanation and apology in connection with the reasons of the Committee for dismissing him, requests the Committee to consider the matter with a view of Eeeing if it may be possible to reinstate Mr Eitchey." Mr Eitchey had certainly amply apologised to the Committee, whose first desire should be the welfare of the Orphanage. There was no denying that the opinion of the public on all sides was that the institution, under the management of Mr Eitchey, had been most satisfactorily conducted. At the Bame time it should be remembered that if Committees were not treated properly no one would consent to act upon Committees. The Orphanage Committee were gentlemen in whom he had full confidence. What had been heard to-day wore things that were on the surface, but there might be other reasons, known to the Committee, for Mr Eitchey's dismissal. He (Mr Louisson) must say he had been very favourably impressed with Mr Eitchey's statement. Eef erring the matter to the Committee would enable them to bring up a recommendation, which would, no doubt, be favourably entertained by the Board. Mr Moore seconded the amendment. He had no wish to act with disrespect towards the Committee, who should have an opportunity of going through the whole matteras fully as possible. In the course he (Mr Moore) had previously taken, he had been guided by consideration for the Committee, but must say that he thought the Board had then acted somewhat hastily. He would like, if possible, to see Mr Eitchey reinstated, but would not act with discourtesy to the Committee, who had taken a great deal of trouble in dealing with the question. Mr Westenra thought it justice to himself and the Committee he should mention what the. position of the Committee was. All the members of the staff, except Mr Eitchey, had received notice. In this the Board had made a mistake. The Committee were new to the work, and required a number of returns. In one case they had to wait six weeks for a return that might have been done in two days. This return was accompanied by the objectionable memorandum, which was attached to it, and the Committee could come to no other conclusion than that it was intended for the Committee. Mr Eitchey should have written to the Committee. [Left sitting.]