SUNDAY TRAINS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 58, 7 March 1912, Page 5

SUNDAY TRAINS.

m USED FOR TERRITORIAL PURPOSES. A COMPLAINT AT THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

A few days ago the N.Z. Methodist Conference passed a resolution condemnatory of the practice of entraining Territorials on Sundays after canip had been struck and another protest was made at this morning's session. The Rev. T. Treatrail (Thames) said he noticed that on Sunday week another load of lads had been carried by the train. It seemed from the facts gathered from the lads that breaking camp on Sundays was to ■be a regular thing. Many of the lads were Christian lads and had conscientious acruples. But What could they do but travel on the trains on Sunday? They couldn't stop on the open veldt all night. He thought that something should be done to have these Sunday trains discontinued. He moved that a deputation should wait on the Hon. J. A Millar, Minister of Railways (who hj? due to arrive in Auckland) to protest against the use of Sunday trains for conveying Territorials. The Hon. G. J. Smith, M.L.C. (who is officer commanding the Kirrt North Country Infantry Battalion) said it was wrong to say there was any law compelling camp to be struck on Sunday. That was a matter that was left entirely in the hands of the officer commanding. He suggested that instead of Mr. Trestraii going "bo the lads for information, he should go to the officers. The Commandant himself wished that Sunday should be observed as far as Territorial camps were concerned. They must look at the matter in a broad-minded manner. If the Territorials did not break camp on Sunday it might mean that they would lose another day. Another point was that they were condemning Sunday trains, but how many of them used Sunday trains.? The Rev. T. TTestrail replied that his information came from the officer-in - charge of the Thames district. Personally, he had always refused to utilise any public conveyance on Sundays. He hnd very strong convictions on the question. It was his belief that one of the reasons why their spiritual life was declining was because they were making a convenience of the Sabbath, instead of using it for the purpose for which it was intended.

The Rev. G. Bond suggested Oat the matter be referred to the Committee on Naval and Military Affaire. Mr. Trestrail consented to withdraw his motion, and Mr. Bond's proposal was adopted.