TERRITORIALS AND SUNDAY TRAVELLING

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2119, 9 April 1914, Page 6

TERRITORIALS AND SUNDAY TRAVELLING

Tas deputation of clergymen which waited yesterday oh the Minister of Befenec (the Hon. James Allen) with regard to the transport of trocvps oft Sundays to and froni the camp which is being organised in connection with Sift lan HasitlTOn'S visit mot with A decidedly sympathetic I hearing, iho Minister made it quit© : plain that the /Defence authorities , have no desire to encourage SMday travelling, but in the present jn* : stance it was practically unavoidable. The time for the- inspection j had been fixed by Qensul Sajiiwmj himself, andtheftailway Department had found that it could .not cope with the whole of the traffic oil the Monday, Part of the work would therefore have to be don© on Sunday, All of fcho speeches were of a most friendly character,, and Mk. Auen took the opportunity of referring to the valuable work which was being done by the clergy in the camps, 'riio presence of tlio chaplains, who are ■ in a measure representatives of the public, as well-as spiritual guides, 1$ very desirable. Though they oe» eupy official positions, they ito not sec things from the military point of view, but rather from tJjo standpoint of an intelligent outsider deeply interested, in the Welfare of the young xoldirrfl. The presence of a uuinber of independent critics of this sort is altogether a wholesome llihig. They have every opportunity of observing; what is going on, »nd they may bo relied upon to make representations to the proper quarters if things happen that ought not to be tolerated. In the course of a speech at Sydney .Sir J.an Hamilton aochi-rccf that he always desired to have Ihe help and . sympathy of the clergy in fojs work,) and stated that Lpiw Ualimke. whciif., ho was Minister of. War* was accub- i

tamed to take" counsel with !t'hc': Church authorities in reference to the ■ moral and religious aspects of a soldier's life. Tiie sarne spirit of mutual goodwill between the military' and religious authorities exists in .New Zealand, General, Oodles has on more than one occasion expressed high appreciation of the good work; which is being done by the chaplains mtl the fact that their presence is welcomed in the camps should be a source of satisfaction to the patents of the lads undergoing military training and to ail interested in the success of our defence system,