TEACHERS FOR THE FRONT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1738, 17 July 1917, Page 3

TEACHERS FOR THE FRONT.

PlvO'tThST AC AIM ST “(1 LA HIM Cl IX.) CSTR’E.” Auckland, July 11. At a crowded meeting held in the Town Hal! to inaugurate a Protestant Political Association, resolutions were carried expressing hearty approval id' the national system of education in vogue in Mew Zealand as opposed to the sectarian system, and its determination slronnonsly to combat ail attempts to interfere with the religions lihcrly which Ihe national system affords; also congratulating the Minister for Education on his linn opposition to a grant of State aid to the Poman Catholic schools. Another resolution affirmed (hat “Protestants protest again d (he glaring injustice being done to (hem, the teachers and children of the Dominion, especially to the men of the Second Division, by the preferential treatment of Maris) and Christian Proiiiers in respect to military service; further, that the meeting eon-' siders the placing of teachers in the Second Division in the list of essentia! workers, when practically the whole of the eligible teachers of the First Division and many of the Second Division have volunteered, is extending furl her protection to the Jlarist and Christian Brothers, ■which only adds to and intensifies lln> injustice already done by protecting them against service, while hundreds of their fellow-teachers, whose Haim In exemption is just as valid, have been compelled to go to Ihe front: the meeting therefore calls upon (he Government to take action to ensure that these private school teachers render due service ■o the Empire before men of flic Second Division are called upon to lake (he places that the single men of (ho Marisl and Christian Brothers ought to fill.” A copy of (he resolution is to be. forwarded to the Premier. In the course of an nddre.-s at a lew Lug of the X.Z. Catholic .Federation in Christchurch, Bishop Brodie dealt with the matter of applications for exemption.-- on behalf of Catholic priests, student.s and teachers. The Bishop said that owing to (heir vows of celibacy all priests and religious brothers fell info the First .Division. In Mew Zealand ihoro were 251) priests and PH of them were of military age. Owing to the effects of severe illness, operations, and so forth, they might sel down the number of unlit as 31. Fifteen were chaplains with the forces, and three were chaplains discharged, leaving a modest balance of 53 for whom exemption was claimed. For theological students, the total number of exemptions asked for was 30. The total number of religions brothers in Mew was 4!). Of these nine were over military age, seven unlit, and the balance, fox- whom exemption was asked, was 33. The total number of exemptions asked for, therefore, was:-—Priests 53, Students 30, Brothers 33. Total, 110. Finally he pointed out that the 150,000 Catholics in Mew Zealand had provided 14,000 soldiers, and had asked for 110 exemptions of men urgently necessary for the work of the Catholic Faith. It was not an exhorbitant nor an extravagant request.