THE ORPHANAGE QUESTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5579, 29 March 1886, Page 4

THE ORPHANAGE QUESTION.

Public Weetins in the Oddfellows' Hall. The Board Called Upon to Resign. Oil Saturday night a public meeting was hold in tho Oddfellows' Hall, Lichfield street, for the purpose of considering the "action of the Charitable Aid Board in dismissing Mr and Mra Ritchey from the posts of Master and Matron of the Lyttelton Orphanage, and other matters concerning charitable aid. The attendance must liave numbered about 500. Hi» Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, and opened the proceedings by reading the requisition, asking him to convene the meeting. The request to him to call the meeting had borne übout 70 signatures. He iwked tho meeting to act fairly to all, and to abstain from abuse. Ho hoped that the arguments would bo Accompanied with orderliness and good conduct. (Applause.) He called upon Mr Crewea to propose

THH FIRST ItEBOLTJTIuX.

Mr Crewea said that when ho came to that meeting, he had not expected to have such an honour conferred upon him. He was not as prepared as ho would like to be to apeak in support of the resolution at auch short notice, but would do his rerj best to present it to them in a clear light. The resolution was this : — " That, in the opinion of this meeting, the action of the Charitable Aid Board, in dismissing the master and matron of the Lyttelton Orphanage, is unjust and harsh in the extreme, inasmuch as that body did not, previous to dismissal, give Mr Bitchey an opportunity of rebutting any charges which they preferred against him." (Loud applause.) He waß very pleased to find that in Now Zealand, as in the Old Country, and in fact wherever Britons were to be found, were found men who would demand that before a man occupying a public position could be dismissed from that position, he should have a fair •Jrial granted to him. (Loud applause.) He (Mr Crewes) had with considerable interest watched the progress of this case ; he had read and weighed every word that had appeared in the newspapers. He had this advantage in arriving at the conclusion at which he had arrived, that, to the kesi of his knowledge, ho had never Been Mr Eitchey ; at any rate he had never spoken to him, or had anything to do with him. He waa there to speak on principle, and he asked them to judge the oase on its merits, apart from any partiality or prejudice. (Applause.) He felt that he had taken mpon himself a very grave responsibility, and he was very pleased to find that the meeting was prepared tv chare that responsibility. (Applause.) As so many things which he had said at other times had been misrepresented, he had put on paper the two great principles which he would ask them t3 recognise in this discussion. In a Colony like this, where we glory in democratic institutions, two duties would be faithfully observed and discharged by Colonists :—l. That when men kfcve been so honoured by the people as to be plaoed in positions of responsibility and power, they should be highly respected and cordially supported as long as they show themselves worthy of tho honour that has "been accorded to thorn. (Applause.) 2. That when men prove themselves unworthy, flagrantly unworthy, of the confidence reposed in them, the very importance •f taking proceedings, which should only be taken very rarely, and under extreme circumstances, should cause persons taking Buch proceedings to proceed with such gravity and earnestness as are proportionate to the circumstances. (Applause ) (The speaker then leferred to the rejwrts as published in the newspapera.) The Board appeared to have acted on tbe principle of "hang the man first aad then let the Coroner's jury pronounce guilty or not guilty," -£ (laughter and applause) — but that principle he hoped would never be accepted on British soil or by British judges. (Applause.) It used to be said " whom the gods would destroy they first make mad." (Laughter.) He hopi'd the destruction of the Charitable Aid Board was not very far distant, and certainly there seemed to him a tinge of madness about the word "alone," üßed by the Committee, if they did not intend to stick to it. But at a meeting held on March IS, the Secro tary read the following report :— " Before entering into the consideration of Mr Eitchey's letter of explanation and apology, your Committee would dpsire h<> explain to the Board, that from representations mado to several members of your Committee by Mr Kitchey, that its action would effecttually prevent him from obtaining any further appointment in the district, it felt unwilling to formulate the whele of the charges which led to its recommending his dismissal. The subsequent action of Mr Ritchey and others, however, compels your Committee now to state the whole tacts in detail, bo far as it feels justified ia doing." It was easier this time for this left an opening for another string of facts. (Laughter.) Ho asked the meeting, in the name of truth and justice, to vote according to the dictates of their own consciences, and not merely from (sympathy with Mr Eitchey. He was not garbling the extract. Hi» n =iked them, if they had any consoienees lof .it all, to vote according to their con^-i-- -..;aa on the words of the Charitable Aid B.>ard itself, and then he was not anxious about their decision. (Applause.) And now he must tell them what had moved him to come to that platform that evening. It was this more than anything else : For many years he had been acquainted with gentlemen in London, such men as Dr Bnrnardo, and used to go into the homes for waifs and strays. He bad taken great interest in orphanages nn-\ homes for foundlings. In fact, he had always takpn the deepest interest in Buoh philanthropic movements, and hia experience told him that there waa not one man in a thousand — nay, not one man in a million — to be found in this world who was fit to take charge of such institutions. (Applause.) There were a good many men goint: about, with no hearts in their breasts end very little brains in their heads, who would be very glad to take up the salary and act as a mere puppet on the wireß of any Charitable Aid Board or Committee. (Applause.) They would take hold of the orphans, pas 3 them through their machinery, and bring them out with the pauper brand upon them, so that every person throughout their lifetime should jeer and scoff at them. They would make parish apprentices «£ them. (Applause.) It waa bad enough that they should be poor little homeless orphans, requiring that they should bo taken into public institutions, which could aever be homes, but which should be made a« like homes as possible. (Applause.) He noticed that men of all clasßea in this city Baidjthat Mr Ritchey was a man of heart and genius. Ho heard the leading inhabitants of Lyttelton say that the Orphanage waß an ornament to the Colony, and that it was better almost than any other institution of the kind in New Zealand. (Applause.) From all that he could learn, it was an institution tho management of which would stand comparison with that of any institution in the world. (Applause.) He had noticed that a gentleman had urged the Board to vote for the Committee, for fear they should resign ; but he (Mr Crewes) would like to say to that Committee, " Wo can find in Chrißtchurch any day a thousand men who could take your places and discharge your duties— (loud applause)— as ably as you have ever yet discharged them, with all due deference to you ; but we have but one Mr Ritchey who has proved his ability to manage an orphanage, ac he has managed this." (Applause.) He asked the meeting to abide by the opinion of tho people of Chrietehurch aad Lyttelton, by the opinion of the secular Press and tho religious Press, by the opinion of everybody except the Board, and he did not sue why they should say that tue wisdom of the world was to be fomd only in tho heads of tho members of that particular Board. ( Daughter.) He took the grave responsibility of saying what ho did, knowing that it cost a niun something to stand on that platform ami ppealr out as he was i*v ■.iicin^ on that occunion j but be felt so

interested that when he was asked, though not prepared, to come there, he said he would be unworthy of himself if he refused to do hist best to advocate so noble a cause as be had on that occasion. (Applause.) He had given them his opinions and feelings in all sincerity. He would read the resolution, and then sit down, leaving the matter to their decision. (Enthusiastic applause.) The Chairman here announced that he had juat received a letter from Mr C. M. Gray, expressing regret at not being able to be present, and stating that in his opinion the majority of the members of the Board had made a serious error of judgment. The Chairman also said that many other business men had spoken to him to the aamo effect. Mr J. G-. Hawkes, in seconding the resolution, gave a history of the Orphanage, with which he had been connected for something like 25 years. He contrasted the hopeless, listless children of former times, "only anxious to get tlirough the day till bed time," with the happy, bright, intelligent, and healthy children now under the care of Mr and Mrs Eitchey. He deprecated the notion of having the children taught in the Government schools, when they could be far better attended to in the Orphanage itself. He had watched Mr Kitchey from the fir3t, and could assure the meeting that if ever there was a gentleman and a lady fitted to hold the reins in an establishment of that 6ort it was Mr and Mrs Eitchey— (applause)— and he would g» further than that, and say that any Board which, through having its little petty dignities trodden upon, and through listening to old women in the Btreet and to backdoor evidence — any Board which, on such grounds, would discharge officials like Mr and Mrs Eitchey was certainly not doing its duty to the country. (Applause.) The Chairman put the resolution, which waa carried unanimously amidst great cheering. THB SECOND RESOLUTION. EXPLANATION OF THB EXPHNDITORB QUESTION. The Hon E. 0. J. Stevens, before proceeding to the immediate subject of the resolution which he intended to propose, wished to state by what right particularly he addressed them. He had acted on the old Hospital and Charitable Aid Board for several years. During that period the Board had entire control over the Lyttelton Orphanage. He had also had the honour to act on the Committee which had the management of the Orphanage in Lyttelton both before and after the appointment of Mr and Mrs Bitchey. He wished, before going further, to take that opportunity for saying that he was perfectly convinced that Mr and. Mrs Eitchey had faithfully and efficiently discharged their duty in that Orphanage, and had done so in a manner which it would be exceedingly difficult to get anyone else to do. (Applause.) During the time that he was Chairman of that Committee he was in the habit of keeping his eyee open, very much open, when he went to the Orphanage. He went there at unexpected times as well as when he was expected. He had noticed that the discipline was exceedingly strict, but had also noticed, what was very seldom to be seen in such institutions, a perfect confidence existing between the master and the children. (Applause.) He said that in such an institution, where the fatherless were protected, and where the control of the governing body must necessarily be very occasional and imperfect, such a character as the master and matron possessed waa of inestimable value. (Applause.) In large countries even, as had been said by Mr Crewes, the number of persons of whom that could be Baid would be found to be exceptionally few. He begged them, one and all, to do the best they could for those unfortunate children, to secure tkat the master and matron, while maintaining firm discipline, should have the confidence of the children, and be distinguished by their kindly spirit and their desire to do their very best for the institution. (Applause.) He would ask them if, considering the opportunities he had had, it was at all likely that he would be able to speak as he was now speaking if there was any sort of doubt in his mind. Was it likely that he would dare to come before them and attempt to deceive themP (Applause.) He had not come there merely to say a good word for Mr Eitchey, or to abuse the Charitable Aid Board, but for the purpose of seeing if something could not be done to protect the people from a great danger. Now, in order to enable them to fellow him, it would be necessary that he should make, in no captious or carping spirit, some remarks on the manner in which the Board had acted to Mr and Mrs Eitchey. He had carefully examined the papers, and he did say this, that, with one important exception, he had never seen published in any public document or newspapers, or in any way placed before the public, a more truly flimsy, irrational, and illogical statement than that of the present Charitable Aid Board. (Applause.) As a public man in New Zealand of twenty years' experience, he said he waa unable to conceive how any set of men occupying public positions and responsible to the public could so far forget what was due in official matters to one of their officers as to place before the public charges of such a description. (Applause.) It was quite likely that Mr Eitchey had not observed every item m the long schedule of duties given to him, but he would say this, that when he was Chairman of the Committee, and his friend Mr Thomson was Chairman of the Board, they would never have thought of picking holes in every small failure. What they would have done would have been this. They would have said to Mr Eitchey, "It appears you have allowed the band to go out without special written instructions. (Laughter.) The returns are not complete, &c." Instead of saying this was a cauao for a serious dereliction of duty, we should have said, " Just make up the returns and don't let the band go out again." (Laughter and applause.) The fact was that a new state of things had arisen, and the grandeur of some people was really immense. (Applause.) But there was one charge — and it was a very grave one— and in order that there might be no mistake he would read what it was as published in the paper. It said, " Capital has been made in favour of the Board retaining Mr Ritchey*s services on account of his alleged efficient management of the Orphanage. With reference to this, your Committee ventures to think otherwise, and would direct the attention of the Board to the greatly increased oost of the working of the institution during Mr Eitchey's management, as shown by the published statements of expenditure for the several years 1880-1885, from which the following are extracts " : — Then came a long array of figures. That charge was a very grave one, because a graver charge than one of extravagance could hardly be made against the head of a public institution ; but he said this, that if there was any increase of expenditure, or any extravagance, Mr Eitchey was not responsible for it. Ho would tell them who was responsible. Himself and his colleagues. (Tremendous cheers.) Yes, the business of a public officer was to place before his superiors what he considered the necessary estimates for carrying on the institution, and it was their business to control him, and to cut down the estimates if they required cutting down. (Applause.) Therefore he said again, in the boldest manner, '• We are responsible." (Applause.) In the same connection, he would say that that expenditure was not unnecessary, but waa necessary for the comfort of the children and that they might be brought up in decent habits. (Applause.) Now he thought he had touched lightly upon the Charitable Aid Board and Orphanage Committee. He hoped he had said nothing that was hard or unfair, but he had felt it necessary to lead up to this simple question which he would put to them. Did they think that it was right and just for a Committee having the control of a public institution and its officers to take up the position of public prosecutors, and to some extent almost of detectives H (Cries of " No!") In his opinion a more unfortunate or false position could not bo taken up by any Committee having the management of a public institutiou. He spoko with the experience of

many years, and must say that every administrator did his best to help the people under him, and did not formulate charges and bear them against his officers. (Applause.) But ho (Mr Stevens) felt thai there had been a strong desire right through to formulate as many charges as could be got together against this officer. (Cries of "Shame!") He took that opportunity of solemnly protesting against that action — (hear)— and he said that those who would read the correspondence carefully would see how it had been attempted to fasten on Mr Eitchey the use of the words "Mr March " as a very grievous crime. (Laughter.) If it had happened under the old Board, they would have been rery glad if their public officer could have given as good an explanation as Mr Ritchey had done. (Applause.) Having now explained to the meeting that he considered it to be the duty of the Board to deal generously and fairly with their subordinates, and that there was great danger in their not doing so, he asked them to follow him still further. What that meeting did would go for nothing in altering the determination of the Board, or in reinstating Mr and Mrs Eitchey. The thing was done. But there was this that tho meeting could do, and it was for this he had got up to speak, fhey could consider whether it was desirable that they should place the institution in other hands. (Applause) He regretted it, and disapproved of doing so if it could be avoided ; but he believed that the good sense of the community would come to the conclusion that it was desirable to bring the Orphanage into the class of separate institutions contemplated by the Act. Private subscribers with Government assistance would then have the management of the institution under their own control. (Applause.) He commended this view to the meeting as the only way out of the difficulty. The people could not turn the present Board out, nor induce them to alter their decision ; but the business view of the matter was to endeavour to effect the only change possible to be got. He had great pleasure in moving : — " That it is expedient that the Lyttelton Orphanage be brought under the Hospital and Charitable Aid Act as a separate institution, with as little delay as possible." In proposing that resolution he thanked the meeting exceedingly for the patient hearing they had given him. He would not have occupied their time so long but for the interest he felt in the institution, and but for the immense consequences to the present and future generations which must follow from its mismanagement. (Loud cheers.)

Mr Henry Thomson had had no intention of offering any remarks on the question now before the meeting. He would tell them why he now spoke. It was pretty well known, he believed, that he was opposed to the formation of the new Board, and he had thought it better, in order to prevent any misunderstanding, that he should re oiain silent, lest anything he should say might prove prejudicial to Mr Eitchey. Since, however, Mr Stevens had thought it his duty to come forward, and since he (Mr Thomson) had been asked to second the resolution, he had not the slightest objection to do so. Thoße who knew him would know that his Bilence would not have been from want of courage. (Applause.) He would endeavour to 6teer clear of saying anything disagreeable to the present Board, and would state hiß reasons for agreeing with the resolution. He did bo the more readily, because, at a special meeting of the old Board which he had called to consider what institutions should be maintained as separate institutions under the Act, he was sorry to say that his colleagues had not seen their way to agree with him. Of course, none of his colleagues had ever dreamt that such a thing as this would have taken place. If the old Board had anticipated this, his strongest supporter would have been Mr Stevens. [Mr Stevens: "Hear, hear."] But the Board could not dream that a public body of gentlemen would commit thenmelves in so short a time. (Laughter.) They thought the new Board would have some sense. (Applause.) The charges against Mr Eitchey were very fully detailed in the second indictment, but he would notice only one or two. One, a very trivial one, was making engagements for the Band without authority. (Laughter.) Now, Mr Bitchey made engagements for the Band for the Ilam FSte and Caledonian Sports. For the first, a letter of the Chairman of the Committee showed that he authorised it, therefore the Board had no right to make any charge on that. For the second, authority was refused, but, let them mark the explanation given. It was that if £5 were paid the Band might go. The £6 was not paid, but through some back-stairs influence, he believed, the Band was allowed to go, and did go. From this it would be seen that the interest of the children was never considered at all. The speaker gave testimony to the efficiency of Mr Bitchey's management, and defended the items of expenditure charged against Mr Ritchey as extravagant. He also, with Mr Stevens, placed the responsibility of the expenditure on the Board, exonerating Mr Ritchey. At the meeting of March 18 a member of the present Board said that it would be inconvenient for the Committee to work with Mr Bitchey, and so, to avoid an inconvenience, they were going to do an injustice. (Applause.) They were going to be the proverbial new broom, and make a clean sweep of all the officers. They were going to bring up the children by contract, and to have their education for nothing — cheap and nasty. The comfort and welfare of the children were not considered. The speaker concluded by expressing hia thorough satisfaction, based on visits to the Orphanage at frequent and unexpected times, with Mr Bitchey's management. He had great pleasure in seconding the resolution.

The resolution was then put and carried unanimously.

THB BOARD ASKED TO RESIGN,

Mr M'Vey Baird thought that whatever the result of the Board's action might be, the testimony given by the speakers must be so gratifying to Mr Eitchey as to make him almost pleased that he had been dismissed. He (the speaker) had to move — " That when the Charitable Aid Board referred the matter back to the Committee, recommending that Mr Eitchey should be reinstated, tho Committee deserve the highest censure for not giving effect to the recommendation, and for their conduct in subsequently endeavouring to trump up charges against a faithful public servant, instead of acting upon the recommendation of the Board." He thought that tho meeting should not separate without attention being turned to those who had acted with common sense. (The speaker here read the names of those who had voted for the adoption of the report.) The four honourable exceptions to that black list were Messrs Chalmers, Torrester, Jones, and Toomer. After reading the report of Mr Beetham's remarks at the conclusion of the Board's meeting, Mr Baird said he would like to see an addendum to the resolution as follows : — " That a requisition be prepared asking the Board to resign." (Loud applause.) Mr Thomson thought it would be better for someone from the body of the hall to suggest the addition.

A working man proposed—" That everything that could be done might be done to keep Mr Eitchey in his position, and that the Board be asked to resign." Mr Baird accepted this, and the latter part was added to the original motion.

Mr John Joyce proposed only just taking up a few minubes of their time, to explain his own action in this matter. It had been freely mentioned that he had taken great interest in the action of the present Board. He was proud to say that he was Chairman of the Orphanage Committee when Mr Bitchey was appointed. As Chairman he bad had a great deal to do with the Orphanage, and knew Mr Bitchey's value. What he desired to place before the meeting waa this : After the Committee decided to dismiss Mr Eitchey, they cent down an auditor to see if his books were correct. The auditor went down with an hour's notice, examined the books and reported that they were in perfect order, and the system adopted by Mr Eitchoy was perfect. The auditor was sent back again to see if he could ferret out any thing, and his second report was even better than his first. Tot all this was kept back by the Committee, who had made up

their minds to dismiss Mr and Mr* Bitchej. He mentioned this because on Monday next (to-day) there was to be a meeting of the Board to turn Mr Bitchey out of doors some day next (this) week, and put in the new master. It remained with the meeting to say whether they would allow such a thing to be done. (Loud cries «f " no.") Then, as had been suggested, let the requisition be signed at once. (Applause.) If the people acted in earnest, he was sure the Board would not dare to put Mr Eitchey out of the Orphanage. (Loud applause.) He had great pleasure in seconding the resolution. The Chairman announced that similar meetings were to be held shortly in Lyttelton and Sydenham.

Mr S. P. Andrews wished an exception to be made in the resolution, in favour of the "staunch, honeßt, and noble men," Mr Fred Jones and those who voted with him.

The Rev F. Knowles thought that the Board was responsible for its action as a Board. As it was known that their decision was not unanimous, he did not see how any stigma could affect those who opposed that decision by the meeting carrying the resolution dealing with the Board as a corporate body. (Hear, hear.) Before sitting down he would like to say that there was one point not made enough of. The orphans should not only have a father but a mother. For the last three years they had had both. (Applause.) All experienced persons knew how difficult it was to secure both, man and wife, so capable as the present master and matron had proved themselves to be. (Applause.) The resolution was now put and carried with enthusiasm.

Mr S. P. Andrews moved a vote of thanks to Messrs Jones, Forrester, Chalmers and Toomer, the members of the Board who voted against the adoption of the report.

Mr Crewes seconded this, and it was carried unanimously. A vote of thankß to the Chairman closed the meeting.

The following is the text of the requisition : —

"At a meeting of citizens, held on the evening of March 27, His Worship the Mayor in the chair, the following resolution was passed unanimously : — ' That when the Charitable Aid Board referred the matter back to the Committee, recommending that Mr Hitchey should be reinstated, the Committee deserve the highest censure for not giving effect to the recommendation, and for their conduct in subsequently endeavouring to tiump up charges against a faithful public servant, instead of acting upon the recommendation of the Board; and that a requisition be prepared asking the Board to resign, and you are hereby requested to give effect to the latter portion of the resolution." Sixty-four persons remained after the meeting and signed the above. The requisition will be open for signature for a few days.