SCENE IN CHURCH.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 99, 1 April 1916, Page 3

SCENE IN CHURCH.

SERGEANT-MAJOR'S ACTION. SLUR ON NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS. ; The recent incident in St. Andrew's Church, Hamilton, when SorgeantMajor, Elliot Pardon rose to repudiate statements made from the pulpit by the Rev. A. Gow, in the course of a special service for humiliation, is the ' subject of a letter of explanation by ; the sergeant-major. The preacher read extracts from an article in "The Outlook," criticising the action of the New Zealand troops in Egypt. "The Rev. Gow made statements in regard to the main body which [ know were absolutely contrary to fact," writes Sergeant-Major Pardon. "'He stated that immediately the main body arrived in Cairo practically the whole of them plunged into dissipation and vice. I, as a member of the main body, could have done nothing else than what I did, and I felt I should have been a traitor and betrayer of my dear comrades, many of whom lie doad on the, battlefield of Gallipoii, had I not done so. I had live months' sojourn in Cairo witii the Now Zealand forces, coming into daily contact with men of different branches of the service, and a better-behaved, cleanerliving lot of men—with a few exceptions which proves the rule—l never met with, either in or out of the army, and 1 feel proud and glad to have been associated with such men. The Rev. Cow's hearers, were absolutely stunned by the cruel statements. J think, instead of being humiliated by the conduct of the main body, rather, we should rejoice that, . midst the greatest of temptations—Cairo is indeed a cesspit of vice, but an open one—our .gallant lads acquitted them- I selves like the brave heroes they are and were." j I