CHAPLAINS IN THE FORCES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2779, 25 May 1916, Page 3

CHAPLAINS IN THE FORCES

, "EEUGIOUS EQUAUIY." ,r '™°, question, addressed to the Minister of Defence in the House, and his answer to it, concerns a subject about which there has been some littla disousBion of late:— ~.¥ r - M'Callum (Wairau) a6ked: (1) Whether his attention has been drawn to tho demands of the General Synod of the Anglican Churoh (a) that all Diocesan pisnops shall be appointed senior chapi n »' , aud -(W definite instructions shall be issued to all Territorial officers to adhere to the King's regulations as regards religious services'in the different hop© oamps, and with the Expeditionary ■iorce? (2) Will lie inform the House whether, if Diocesan Bishops are appointed senior c*haj>lains, these appointments will bo made m addition "ho the Anglican chaplains already holding these positions P (3) Whether he will inform the House what the King's instructions Me in Great! ■Britain, where a State Church exists, and how they differ from those here, whore no State Churoh exists? (i) Whether he will jealously maintain the position of absolute religious equality h«re, despite any effort made by any Church to en- ' croack upon it ? Tho Hon. J. Alleni replied: (1) I have noticed certain' reference to the subject in the public Press. 12) It is oontrary to regulations to make first appointments to . tho Not,- Zealand Chaplains Department of n higher rank than oaptain, and subsequent promotion, is dependent on length of setride, the report of the Officer Commanding, the District, and the recommendation of the G.O.C. (3) /Paragraphs 1332 to .1346 have reference to chaplains' to regiments of the British Army. They ihile'r from what is laid down as regards tho appointment of chaplains in the New Zealand 'Expeditionary Force, , inasmuch as they make provision as a/general prin* oiple for the appointment of Anglican, . Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic cliap« lains . only, whereas in New Zealand the Defence Department arranges for. the ap* ■ pointmont of chaplains of practically all denominations in proportion to the number of adherents of each'denomination on a population basis throughout tho Dominion. (4) Every effort will be. made ' to maintain the religious equality in th<i : appointment of chaplains to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on the basis stated in (3) above, unless a better 6ys : tem in fairness to all denominations call be evolved. ■'