ST. JOSEPH'S ORPHANAGE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 42, 13 November 1920, Page 11

ST. JOSEPH'S ORPHANAGE

; MR. PETHERICK'S DENIAL. Sir, —The denial by. Mr. Petherick of his appreoiatiou of tho work of St. Josephs Orphanage as appearing in the souvenir programme of the bazaar, publishad by the Bazaar Committee, has just been, brought to my notice. I, as chairman of the Bazaar Committee, take the full responsibility of publishing Mr. Pefflierick's remarks with reference to the orphanage. The words ■ascribed to liim were spoken at a meeting of the Charitable Aid Board, the report of which is taken from tho "Hutt Vallov. Independent" of July 10 last. These, are his words as reported in tlfat paper:— ■ 'George Petherick, ohajrman of the -Charitable Aid Committee, member of the Protestant Allianco Friendlv Society, ;nnd of the Loyal Orange Institution in whioh he has held high offices, endorsed . the declaration of the superintendent. Ho remarked: 'I think it only right to sav we is, the membcis of this committee —are. really undor an obligation to the nuria'at .Upper Hutt, because • when •we Me at our wits' end. so to speak, to place children who are thrown on our hands, in homes of. their own religion, Sister Mary Ambrose just tells us to send them "long to her until "we.can find a homo ■ -M.t ln ' And we'do so, knowing they will' be well looked after, and that their different religions won't, lie interfered with. She is a very fine woman—l sometimes think it is a pity she is a nun—a , very fine woman indeed. But she and the other sisters with her are doing e.t----"W wor -' r ' 11103 excellent work indeed —that is' my opinion." As far as I can. asoertain, Mr. Editor, these words have" never been contradicted, put,, on - the contrary, the same paper in its issue of July 24, confirms the report as, above, and states: "Our notes taken 'at the'time substantiate the printod reI>ort.' The notes contain references to the circumstances of other institutions which were named, but the 1 Editor , refrained . from publishing them.". And then follow the references referred to. Do you not think, Mr. Editor, that' in . Tiew of these facts, it would bo very hard for one to believe the report a fabrication? Then why does Mr. Petherick try to deny its accuracy?—l am, etc., , . PATRICK J. SMYTH, Chairman St, Joseph's Orphanage . Bazaar Committee. November 12, 1920. ■