EX-CHAPLAIN MULLINEUX

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2966, 3 January 1917, Page 6

EX-CHAPLAIN MULLINEUX

HIS POSITION EXPLAINED ; . "I have just returned to Wellington from a visit to the Primate at Diinedin," said ex-Chaplain .M. Mullineux yesterday, "and I Jind that during iriy absence an article about iny chaplaincy had appeared in TiieDomikion. .This inorning I find in your-paper an extract from the "Church Chronicle" dealing ■with this article. This extract necessitates a statement from mo. • "At the outset I wish to say that . the article was published without my \ permission. The last thing I wanted to do was to rush into print. My desire was to leave quietly, and this the Military Affairs Committee know per- ' fectly well. Here is my case: "I was asked to accept a chaplaincy with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, being distinctly told I should ■he -'transferred ,1 from the N.Z.M.C. as the Primate had nominated me. I was 10s. per day as assistant, and was informed that this was only for three or four weeks, as Colonel Tracey was going, away and I was to have his place. This was towards the end of August, 1916. Instead of being an assistant, I was at once sen? to take full charge of Tauherenikau. From Tauherenikau I was ordered to-take full charge of Trentham, Colonel Tracey being away on sick Jeavo. Only for the past few weeks have I heen' assistant at Trentham. My pay of'los. per day was not 'clear. , I had my messing allowance ''to pay but of this, and all other personal expenses. The only expenses allowed me were those allowed to Colonel Tracey—official expenses, claimed by all chaplains. I hold no brief for tho Y.M.0.A., hut let justice ho done to that body. Mr. Virgo did not offer, 'nor did I accept, any position from him whilst I was chaplain of a recognised /ecclesiastical body. - Several Y.M.C.A. officials told me they could find me suitable work at the front, if I found my scope was limited here. This surely was a perfectly. legitimate 'proposition. I understand that severa' clergymen are doing such v work as I was told that by the Y.M.C.A. officials. "The committee were not anxious for me to go out with tho Y.M.C.A. J did my Vest to fall in. with their wishes, but the position was intolerable. How intolerable can easily he ascertained from those acnuaiuted with conditions at Trentham. I was anxious to the last to stay with my church, and asked (I am not aware that I 'demanded' anything) to he sent out with the 21st Reinforcements, or to be sefit back to Awapirai as a private. Apparently neither request pleased the committee, and the only thins: left for mo 'to do was to resigu. Trentham was never offered to me. I was informed that it was 'the wish' of the committee ;to appoint me a camp chaplain. The Primate makes the nominations for these posts, and His lordship never mentioned the matter to me during my interview with him. \ ■■:■ "The Trentham Records* Office asked - for my papers the dav I rpnorted tVere foil my- way to Tauherenikan). They finally 'reached Trentham ? few wpp];<! atjo. and 'discharged' was thn one word depicting my condition. This' meant that T was no longer a member of the Expeditionary Force, and I hnve lost all my service since August. . The extract gays I oould not ho 'trnisferrpd , owing to military methods. Thi Mil , - tarv Affairs Committee would do well +n look up the caso of thfi !?«•. Vnr<-. He was 'transferred' from the N.ZM.C. to'the Chaplams'Dopartment, and now li'ojfl'! a commission at the front. "The above is iust a plain statement of my case, and I have nnw finished with the matter. I leavo it as such, without voioinn; an opinion on the irratment accorded mo or on the nrg."nisation of the Church of England. I enn onlv hope thatsomn vigorous measnros will be taken in the future to plane this preat historical Church oi> tlio pinnacle she ought to princeps' nmnngst the doers of Itinf l actions nnd the hearers of spiritual comfort." . . • ■ •