RAILING OF TROOPS

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

RAILING OF TROOPS

.;■'■.■'■'' V' ■ ! ~*** '■ :J.f SIR LHAMtWON'S VISIT ,;.' ; SHALL SUNDAY TRAINS "RUN? , ;{;|?; : CLERGYMEN'S PROTEST. ; AN EXCEPTIONAL POSITION, A proposal to transport troops on Sunday to and from the district camp which is being organised in connection with General Sir lan Hamilton's visit to New Zealand was the subject of a strong protest yesterday. 'Die Protest was made by a deputation representing tlio Wellington Ministers' Association, the Presbyterian Church, and the Methodist Church, to tho Hon. Jas. Allen (Minister of Defence). Tho tiwftito's of tho deputation Were: —Tho Revs J, J. Lewis (president of tho Ministers' Association). W. J. Comrie. W. Shirer, A. T. Braiiisby, B. J. Cossum, A. C. W. Staiidage, g. H. D. Peryman, J. M'Oaw, ami G. KnowkjsSmith, . The Rev. J. J. Lewis said that tho deputation was realty all amalgamation of three deputations, representing tho Ministers' Association, the Presbyterian Church, and tho Methodist Church. They understood that, in connection with the district camp, which was to be visited by General Sir lan Hamilton, a, large amount of Sunday travelling of troops was contemplated. .This they regarded as inconsistent with the teachings of the churches, which included many territorials in their membership. Speaking on behalf of the Wellington Ministers' Association, ho wished to state that they were not there as anti-militarists. .Some ministers, at atiyrate. felt that timeft defence was a stern necessity, but there -was a bet" ter protection than could be afforded by men or ships, and there was jv danger of losing that protection if they set at naught the laws of the. Supreme. They contended that Sunday travelling was against tlift best interests o! the men tfho would take part in tho camp. Aifituda of the Chaplains. Ilia Rev. W. Shirer (Presbyterian) heartily agreed with what Mr, Lewis had Said, I'Jio attitude' of some members of tho deputation towards military training, was sufficiently indicated in' the fact that they held chaplains' commissions from His Majesty. The chap-' kins had como there with tho full knowledge of their superior officers. What they wished to protest against was that tt was proposed to send sonic 800U men into camp on Sunday, April 26, and to return, approymifttply, COCO . incn to their homos on Sunday, May 10. They were, quite aware of the necessity of securing rapid mobilisation* mtd of tho tact that traffic problems were entailed in tho transport of so largo a body of men. Nevertheless, studying the interests of tho. territorials soneerned and of the numerous railway servants whom it was proposed' to employ on Sunday, they had come in tho hope that, even.at this stage, •other arrangements might be made. Failing this, ; they hoped that on any future occa- : sion 6W&. steps would bo taken as would obviate tho necessity for a repetition, of their protest. The- Rev, A. G. W. Standage, ropro* ■ santing tho Genera} Assembly of the . Presbyterian Church, said that a tendency was creeping in in Wellington to ■ utilise Sunday icr<military purposes. In : making their protest" they wete eneour- ■ Aged by., reinembe-rmg the reception ; which they had received in eonneetfcm frith. TOBSQ-.matters,on past occasions, Mwe 'than once proposals to ■utilise •Sunday for milita.ry operations had been abandoned on a protest being made. Methodist. feeling. The Rev. G. Jtnowies-i&aith, speaking for tho Methodist Church, said that, . while tho Churches wero labouring to secure a proper observance of Sunday, tho Government (where the. Territorials were concerned) seemed to be working in an opposite direction. As a Church, Methodists supported the military training system. Their young men wero iu thesoeamps, and they wero animated by a desire to safeguard their welfare. HON. J, AU6M>$ REPLY. DIFFICULTY OF TBI POSITION. Tho Minister, in replying, thanked mambors of tho deputation for their sympathetic expressions regarding tho defence scheme, and assured them that he was anxious that nothing should be done- to forfeit that sympathy. The Bfifoueo Department, in tho..first instance, had arranged that the- camps should be opened.on Tuesday, thus leaving Monday avaiiablo for tho transport of troops. Tho. difficulty was that tko Railways Department found that it conld not eops with tho traffic on Mow* day and carry on ordinary, business at the same time. His sympathies wore with the deputation., but the occasion was almost unique. The time, of General Hamilton's visit had been fixed by himself, and tho Defence- Departnio.ftt had to get tho men into caiftp hi tiiiio for him to see them. 'Bio general would* go tlnmigh New Zealand very rapidly—in the spiico of about four weeks-—sa* that everybody had to bo got into camp practically, at the same tinio. This was very difficult, 'both for tho Defence and Rail* Ways Departments. Tim Railways Bo* pa-rtment had dono everything that it could to cope with the traffic on Monday, but, apparently, they could not do it and felt bound to deal with soine- of it on Sunday, Ho would approach tho Railways Department _._again, and sea whether Sunday travelling could bs obviated, but the thing seemed impossible. Mr. Allen also assured the deputation that tho Sunday travelling proposal had not been adopted out of choice. It 'had arisen out of tko circumstances in which they were plated this year, and he tendered them an assurance that in future years, so long as ho was Minister, Sunday travelling would bo discouraged. An Open Pleld for the Churches. Tho Defcnco Department (continued tho Minister) was very anxious indeed to enlist tho valuable aid of clergymen in these camps. They had already given it, but the Department wanted niory of it. For his own part, ho considered that opportunities were open to Churches in tlto csmjJs which wero not avaiiablo in other circumstances, and lie wanted them to bo there. From his point of view the camps were not merely places of military training, but places where young men might bo permanently influenced' for geod. The Minister mentioned that, a few days previously, ho had conferred on tho subject with tho Rev. J. Dawson, who bad promised that ho would meet some of his foltetr-ckrgymcto and thoroughly talk over the possibility <jf better organising dwell work in camps than had been done in the past. Ho would be very gmtefnl to the clergymen present if thov could suggest any way in which the defence, authorities could help them to bring" tho influence- of tho Church to bear on camps to tho utmost possible extent. ■ Ho was sorry that the difficulty in regard to Sunday travelling had arisen, but possibly services could bo held if tho men had to bo taken into camp on Sunday. Ha would be very glad indeed to hare any suggestion on that point. Cfiurchos Ready to Undertake It The lllov. J. J. Lewis said that ho was speaking for all present in thanking the Minister for the. kindly and courteous reception which ho had accorded them _

and tho sympathy which ho had shown witk their views. ■ They would certainly take to heart what the Minister tad said about tho camps, aj|d would take every opportunity that canio their way to influence the Territorials for good,' ' The Row W. Sliiror said that not only had tho Churches been allowed to Se.ni.l chaplains into the camps as usual, but by the kindness of tho General, extra chaplains had been arranged for. The Rev J. M'Caw asked what penalty would bo imposed 01 i conscientious objectors to Sunday travelling? Air. Alien replied that, if lio answered tho question, probably everybody wouM Want to travel on Monday. There wag no absolute compulsion on any man to g<J into this particular camp. Ho had, however, to Attend some camp, and every effort %vas being made by the Department to got as many ni.cn as pos» sihlo into this particular camp. Ho suggested that Mr.- M'Caw shouid communicate -with tho General about tho pomt that ho had raised. Camps antf Shows. Tho Rev. W. J. CoHirio asked whether tho Railways Department would not . have made arrangements to deal with the traffic if a- show instead of a ca«p had been in question. Mr. Allen, by way of reply, road a memorandum on tho subject which ho . had received from tho Railways Depart ment. It stated that the transport of fapcops to tho camps necessitated .extensive special aCMn.i--<3rneiits, and that tho Department could not handle such a volume of traffic and carfv on its ordinary business ."M well. Tho' Depart-. merit was ooposed as a. rulo to Sunday trains, and invariably resisted demand's for Sunday services, except on suburban hues, holding that its employees should have Sunday off for a day of rest. In. the present case, however, 57 locomotives snd hundreds of trucks aiid car* riages would bo required to convey tho : troops to tho district camp. The Row W. <T, Connie asked whether tho Department caald not have .set aside' the ordinary traffic as it did far- the benefit of agricultural shows. . ; Mr. Allen replied that it would uot b© fair to ask tho Department to set asido tho ordinary passenger traffic. This was not set asido for shows, but was really augmented. However, ho would communicate again with Mr. Riley, though, from tho tenor of tho General Manager's letter, it did riot appear that this would do much gsod. ANOTHER BEPUTAfIu.a, Another deputation Or ministers is to interview the Hon. W. H. Howies (Minister of Hail ways) on the .suhjed of Sunday travelling of troops, when he re- ■ turns from his present northern tour. THE DIUWIA, POSITION STATED BY MR. ffllM. Subsequently the deputation waited upon Mr. E. H. Hiley, General Manager j of Railways, Who informed a reporter later that, as a Matter of principl*., tho Railway Department was. strongly ©p-J posed to Sunday trains. It held thai) wherever practicable, its employees should have Sunday as a day of rest. In this instance, howerer, the eireitmstances were- exceptional Tho dates of tho camps, were, fixed by. tho Defence Department without consultation with the Railway Departments and practically the whole of tho Defence Depart' moat's arrangements were made before, the Railway Department came into tho matter, The iinpxaeticability «£ conveying troops during the Week was at Onto pointed out to the Defence Department, with, the intimation, that,- if it \vfts iiuipmtive fat the canips to be lield on the dates fixed, and practically simultaneously in tho varifjus defence districts, "the only possible arrangement thirt could, bo made was tho troops on a Sunday. : The. raffing stock required' represented a. withdrawal from ordinary traffic of vehicles of J a Capacity of 100,000 tons. In one. district alone 57 locomotives WMild bo required for tije worfc. That- tho position this year *as very exceptional (owing to the visit of Sir laii Hamilton} was recognised by the Defense Department, as, in a cominunieation from the Commandant of the Forces, in' reply to a letter from the Railway Department., that officer said: "I understand that the Railway Department-., equally with the Defence Department, would prefer that no movement of troops should take place on Sunday, Taotli on principle and on account, of the extra 'work im'olved to its employees, hut tho necessity for tho abnormal, eoflceutratloii of this yea nias foreed 'Simday running-on tho Department." It Was totally' impossible., added, Mt. Hiley, to ment the requirements of jtho ordinary traffic and convey large ■bodies of troops at the same time..