EXEMPTION OF CATHOLIC CLERGY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1917, Page 4

EXEMPTION OF CATHOLIC CLERGY.

ALLEGED ARRANGEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT. MR, ALLEN GIVES EMPHATIC DENIAL. By Telegraph.—Pre»» Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the course of nil interview to-day, Sir James Allen referred to the report pf a deputation from the Christchurch Ministers' Association which waited on Mr. Russell at Christclnirch. "I notice," taid Sir James, "that tlwre was a feeling that some private arrangement exists between the Government and the Roman Catholic Church, 1 wish to make it perfectly clear that there is no private arrangement between the Government and the Roman Catholic or any other church. The arrangements mada have been publicly notified and publicly Mted upon. In simple language; the arrangement is this: That where the headß !>f any churches take upon themselves the responsibility of saying that a flcrgyman cannot be spared, and that it would not be in the public interest to send him to the front, the Minister of Munitions would sign a certificate to that effect to the Military Service Board before which the case came. The regulation is perfectly clear. It says that in determining an appeal on the ground set out 'in paragraph C, section 1.8, of the .Military Service Act, the Board shall, unless it sees good reason to the contrary, accept as sufficient a certificate from the Minister of Defence, etc. The Boards, so far as I Know, have accepted the certificate as sufficient in cases o( all priests and all clergy, but in the case of two students of the Roman Cath. olic Clmrcli, for whom certificates were Rent in, the Board, in its judgment, came to the conclusion that there was good reason not to accept) the certificates. Those are the only two cases I know of. Certificates have been sent down for each of the denominations fn every case where the head of the church has accepted the responsibility of asking for them. It is not correct? to say Hiat the Roman Catholic Church is the only one that has made applications for exemptions. As far as I know, nearly every church lias made applications for exemption. In the telegraphed report of the deputation Mr. Russell said he sould not give a spesific- reply to the assertion that a secret understanding existed between the Government and the [(oman Catholic Church, as it was 'only the Aoting-l'rime Minister that could do so. I can give a specific reply," said .Mr. Allen. "There is no secret, understanding between the Roman Catholic Church and the Government. There waa no understanding that did not apply to nil the other churches, and othei churches all know it.