MONEY FOR WOUNDED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2520, 22 July 1915, Page 2

MONEY FOR WOUNDED SOLDIERS

ON THE HOSPITAL SHIP MAHENO

MR. DUTTON'S £200 ROMAN CATHOLIC FEDERATION PROTEST. At yesterday's meeting of the General Committee of the Mayor's Patriotic Fund,' tho following letter was road by His Worship the. Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) as chairman of the committee: — "Dear sir, —Adverting to our conversation of the l'ltli instant, in respect to the amount donated front the Mayor's Patriotic Fund to Chaplain-Major Dutton, of the Hospital Ship Mahono, I laid the position beforo a meeting of the Dominion Executive.of the New Zealand Catholic Federation on that date, and gave .a- full explanation as received from you of your reasons for making tho donation in full to tho Rev. Mr. Dutton. My executive is not satisfied, and contends that it is not ail equitable, reasonable, nor fair arrangement which would compel the chaplain looking after tho interests of the Roman Catholic men on the ship to be obliged to go, as it were, liat in hand to a Presbyterian chaplain for the funds required for tlie men under his charge, and it is unreasonable to suppose that tho Presbyterian chaplain would bo acquainted with tho needs of tho Roman Catholic men, and as funds-have been provided by all sections of the community, including a large amount from people of the Roman Catholic faith, my executive considers that it is distinctly unfair to have made tho grant to tho representative of ono denomination, who at best can only bo said to hold his position by favour of the New Zealand Government, and not in accordance with the request or instructions of the Imperial Government. I do not tLink.it is too late yet for an alteration to bo mado in this matter, and I think you will see that it is only fair that at all events tlie Roman Catliolie chaplain should havo funds placed at his disposal for distribution amongst men of his own faith. My executive trust that you will see your way to write to Chaplain-Major Dutton directing lijin ,to place at the disposal of Cap-tain-Chaplain Sogrief sucli an amount as your committee may deem cquablo to bo used at his discretion for the relief of . siich oases as may come under his noticc—Yours faithfully (Signed) George Girling-Butclicr, Secretary and Organiser." Referring to tho letter, tho Mayor said -that the action of the executive had been taken on learning through telegrams from tlio south that money was being handed to Mr. .Dutton for the ..benefit of wounded soldiers in a distressed condition-whom ho might meet in the course of his duties on the Hospital Ship,, and lie ..had been asked to join in a. similar movement whilst visiting the ship. There were two members of the ■ executive there at tho time, and after consulting- them it was decided to hand over £200. He know Mr. Dutton very, well, and regarded him iu this matter as a man, not so much as a minister, and one whom lie could confidently repose any trust in .to do the right thing under any circumstances. In sanctioning tho donation Mr. Luko stated that he lost sight entirely of any religimis oentiment, and lie certainly had no thought of treading upon t'he religious convictions of anyone. He had never taken up- sides and never would take up sides. What he had done he did as tho Mayor of Wellington for the benefit of all. This money had been given- Mr. Dutton' to do as he thought fit- for any soldier of the Empire. Primarily it was for the relief of men from this area, but Mr. Dutton had been given a free hand to apply it for any soldier of the Empire in distress. (Hear, hear.) There were two other chaplains on board the Maheno, continued the Mayor, an English Church chaplain, and Father Segrief, whom bo had known from boyhood and for w'liom ho had the very greatest rcspect, and if a mistake had beon made in not considering those gentlemen it had been made inadvertently, and partly, perhaps, on impulse. As far as Mr. Dutton jvas cor.cerncd, he was a man who could be relied upon to do his duty to all soldiers irrespective of the religion ho represented.

Mr. D. ISwen stated tliat the Rev. Mr. Gillam, who was'serving as a chaplain on the Hospital .Ship, had informed him that through tho agency of Colonel Collins (Officer . Commanding) that he was going to suggest that all funds, including those placed in the hands of Mr. Dutton, should be placed in one cnmmon fund, aud'tb he'disbursed to the men in need on the ship, irrespective of the denominations they belonged to.

Mr. C. R. Smith (secretary) stated that Mr. Dutton had been definitely instructed to help any men —no matter who they might he—any soldier of the Empire. He had known Mr. Dutton for many years, and could testify to his character and broad-mindedness. Tho committee could rely 011 it that any funds placed in his hands would be fairly and equitably administered. Tlio Mayor suggested that there were two ways of meeting the case, either communicating with Mr. Dutton to allow the other chaplains a portion of the money to disburse or to send them each a sum of money. He moved that money be sent to both the English Church chaplain and Father Segriof as soon as funds were forthcoming. _ This was agreed to without further discussion.