CLERGY AND CONSCRIPTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1917, Page 5

CLERGY AND CONSCRIPTION.

PROTJSST AGAINST COMHJLSOKSI SERVICE. By Telegraph.—P»— Association. Auckland, Last Night. The. New Zealand Catholic Federf* '\ tion's half-yearly meeting was attended hy delegates from all parts of the Do"union. The following resolutions.wera unanimously adopted:— "That this meeting, on behalf of tin Catholics of New Zealand, protest against the Catholic clergy and religious being compelled to serve under the Military Service Act, on the following ground*: (1) That such compulsion of clergy and religious is abhorrent to the minds o! Catholics, and without precedent in Kng« lish-spcaking countries; (2) that thfl number of such clergy is too insignificant to make their service as soldiers of ma» terial value in winning the war; (3) that as the religious ministrations of all tmcU clergy and religious are absolutely necessary within the Dominion, this meeting earnestly hopes and trusts the au&Mri« ties will take immediate steps to hart all such persons exempted from" suefcj service; that this meeting fully supports the action taken by Archbishop 0"She«; in iliis matter, and assures the hierarchy of New Zealand of its earnest aaswtano? in any further action they think a* vis&ble.

''That copies of these resolutions b* sent to the Acting-Prime Minister."-