“TAINTED £400 A YEAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 59, 9 March 1916, Page 3

“TAINTED £4OO A YEAR.

Speaking at- a meeting of the National Church League, in London,, Sir Edward Clarke asked what could it profit ns if we succeeded in this war and established our maritime supremacy, if the mind and heart of the people had not been trained to something a good deal better than the?, saw indications of to-day. The House of Commons was setting the worst example to the whole country. Its members were taking from the resources of the country a quarter of a millioi a year, to which they were not er titled, and never had been. When tlu

country was exhorted to economy he wondered how any member of the House of Commons who accepted the tainted £4OO a year could expect anybody to listen to his advice or exhortations. (Hear, hear). They were told that there were 1,000 young clergymen—a number ridiculously underestimated —who had solemnly devoted their lives to the service c God, clamouring to be allowed f(

leave the post of duty a a time when it was mere important tc remain than at any other time for a century — clamouring to go into the' barrackyard for three or four months to practise bayonet exercise, until they wer capable of killing their fellow-men. There might bo, of course, difforem of opinion in that room (hear, hear) but if the bishops did let any of these young men go he hoped, that they would take care that they did not return to the posts they had deserted. He trusted that when the war was over, and those men who had been sobered and strengthened by their - periences in battle returned the country would benefit by an uplifting of the spirit.