TORRITORIAL CAMPS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 149814, 30 May 1914, Page 5

TORRITORIAL CAMPS.

APPOINTiVIENT OF' CHAJPLATJS'S

COMMENTS';'^; BISHOP AVEmi,h,

(press association, tkleckam;)

AUCKLAND, May 29

Reform in the. organisation of •chap-' lams* -work in Territorial camps • was strongly. urged by Dr. Averill, Anglican Bishop of Auckland, at the annual meeting of the Auckland • Diocesan Union. ■' {. The Bishop said that-he was glad of an opportunity to say something that was on his mind. "I had-hotter say at once,''' ho remarko'd, "that-1 am a chaplain. I was connected for, many years with tho volunteers, and I have reached the rank" of Major. I regret that I' was liot at. Hautapu, but" I was aw.ay in the North. If I had been there I should not have left the- camp because of the; weather, which could not have been worse than what I had at the Oringi camp lust year: . • ' .* .'

"Tho present— arrangement," proceeded the' Bishop,-; "is bad; and,' as I believe, against , the order of the Church. The Bishop should be -the senior Anglican chaplain. (Applause.) The Waiapu diocese has asked the Government to follow this arrangement, and I believe that the "Wellington diocese has done likewise. The present system is doing much harm ai the present time. ■ 1.-am junior .to some of my clergy, and if they, wero to order mc about it would make things difficult. (Laughter.) -It has; been represented to the Defence authorities that tho whole principle of the present arrangement is'wrong, but they have always replied that they are acting on English lines. Conditions here are. of course., different frc-in those in England, and the result is .that tho existing system is on <|uitc wrong lines.

' "The Roman Catholics, l,,im assurj cd, will support us," continued tho Bishop, "and if w can arrango.it the Bishops will 'in future have charge of ; camp arrangements* and will' appoint ' their own chaplains. If you can do ; anything to help mo, I shall be very ! glad. In nny case. wi> must stick to I the camp institutes next year and go jon with them for all we are worth.'' j (Anplause.'i ; , Tho following- resolution was caririod: "That, this Conference, repre- ; renting 3-J. branches of the Church of j England. Men's .Soeicty. hnvinrr taken into consideration -vhe matter' of Church of England tervices iir camp, considers that, in order to avoid confusion and distress in the future, the ! Bishop should be senior Anglican cbapj lain iv the diocese." I .It was decided- to forward, .a copy iof tho resolution to the Minister of i Defence.