CHAIMPLAINS COMPLAIN

Hokitika Guardian, 21 December 1921, Page 4

CHAIMPLAINS COMPLAIN

ALLEGED DISCRIMINATION. , WELLINGTON. Dee. 19. j The Assembly clerk of the Presbyterian 'Church of New Zealand has written to various members of Parliament expressing regret that the Defence Department had not furnished the Assembly’s committee with a copy of the proposed regulations regarding chaplains, and protesting against the discrimination shown in the ease of chaplains ns compared with other non-com-batant officers. The letter concludes with a “demand that adequate representation lie given to chaplains’ hoards and establishment.’

In the House of Representatives, this afternoon, Mr A, S. .Malcolm asked the Minister of Defence why the Presbyterian Church had not been furnished with a copy of the regulations, why discrimination was shown, and whether adequate representation would be given as desired.

Sir Heaton Rhodes, in reply, pointed out that the proposed regulations would go through the usual channel to commands and other military organisations, right down to individual officers, and that it was not usual to issue copies of such orders and instructions to other than military organisations. It r. as assumed that the chaplains concerned would bring the regulations to the nntiee of their different denominations if tiler thought it necessary. No discrimination was shown between chaplains and other non-combatant officers, but the status of chaplains was entirely different from the latter. For instance, chaplains did not command and could exercise no authority. They held no military rank, and should not wear badges and equipment peculiarly those uf officers exercising command. Sir Heaton Rhodes added that a deputation had waited 11 ]X>n him, and he had told them that the regulations, were only tentative. In regard to rep'rscutation. it was host, lie thought', that it should he on a population basis uf denominations concerned. Complaint been made that chaplains did not like their black belts, hilt he pointed cult that commanding officers in the llille Brigade wore such holts. II the chaplains objected to belts, it could be aiiangecl that they should wear no belts at all, as was tlie custom at Home.