LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2667, 12 January 1916, Page 5

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

CHAPLAINS FOR THE FORCES.

NATIONAL SERVICE LEAGUE. Sir, —We are wanting every man and woman in New Zealand that cannot answer the Empire's call to do their bit at home, to prepare the way for returned soldiers, so that directly they take off their uniforms, they have many friends on the outlook, to give them a kind work, do them a kind action, help them to work.. How many, of your rea'dSrs"will 'send 'tis' tlleir" promise to do so for four years? We want 100,000 by February 1, on which date we open our permanent office at Palmerston North. Wo shall appreciate a few gifts of trophies of war, to place in our reception rpom. Also, will colleges ' and schools present us with framed photos of any of their "old boys" who have distinguished themselves in the present or past wars of the British Empire. These we will hang in a place of honour in our building. Manufacturers of New Zealand goods— we shall be pleased to exhibit a few special samples, not too bulky, in our reception room. Framed cards describing same should be sent. Also attractive, framed show-cards of New Zealand manufactured goods will he placed on the walls. Will anyone present us with 1915 directories? Our motto is "Fighting Men First." "Preference for New Zealand and Empire Goods." ■Who is going to be the party to hold back from helping us? Not'your readers. Men out of unifoi-m, that have answered the Empire's call, let's hear from you; we afe out to help vour mates when they return, and give you and them the place of honour you both deserve.—l am, etc.,. . F. NORRIS, Organiser.

Sir, —With reference to the Reinforcements which left Wellington recently, I wish, as a loyal British subject, to protest against- the neglect of the authorities responsible in not supplying a Roman Catholic chaplain. I am led to believe that the percentage of Roman Catholics in this Reinforcement exceeded that of any other that left our shores up to date. To my mind, it is an injustice to those brave boys as well as an anxiety fo their parents, -who taught them a love of religion as well as a love of country.—l am, etc., FAIR PLAY. [The complaint in the foregoing letter was referred to the Defence Ministei (the Hon. J. Allen) yesterday. . Mr. Allen said that lie did not know as a fact whether a Roman _ Catholic chaplain accompanied the Ninth Reinforcements. Tho practice followed in the appointment of the number of chapkiins required for the establishment- of the force was to select, explains from the different denominations in proportion to the numbers of persons in our population belonging to those denominations. It had nob been possible to adhere strictly to this rule in regard to some of the smaller denominations, because it this had been done, "some, denominations would have had no chaplains at all. He believed that justice had in this matter been done to the Roman Catholic community as to other religious communities. He had had no complaint from the Catholic Church, and ho believed they were quite satisfied. The 'Ninth were a comparatively small body of men, and it was not possible to send with every draft chaplains of every religion. In any event, the Reinforcements would join the Main Body at the end of theif voyage, and the Roman Catholics in the Ninths would then meet chaplains of their own Church with the force.]