ROMAN CATHOLICS AND DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1130, 18 May 1911, Page 2

ROMAN CATHOLICS AND DEFENCE.

VIEWS OF AN AUCKLAND OFFICER. (By TcleKrapli.-SDCcial Correspondent.) ■ . Auckland, Hay 16. Tho proposed formation of separate Roman Catholic companies in connection with Iho now defence scheme has boon tho of keen discussion in volunteer circles in Auckland during the past day or two. One of the sonior officers, who strongly disapproves of the proposed innovation, explained the objection to tho scheme from a military point of view in conversation with a "Herald" representative yesterday. Ho said: — "It is quite impossible, in ray opinion, to have sectarian companies in the regiments to bo formed under tho new territorial scheme. The defence system of New Zealand follows the Imperial system as do all tho new defence schemes for tho various parts of the Umpire. It is essential that there should bo a universal system adopted under the Imperial system. Tho regiment is tho unit, and thereforo everything has to be administered regimentally. The regimental staff receive and deal with tho funds of the regiment, administering them in the interests of the regiment as a whole. Promotion and enlistment are regimental. Esprit do corps in the regiment is to be cultivated, and not esprit de corps in the company. A regiment of infantry is divided into eight companies, each company consisting of 120 non-commissioned officer's and men, with a captain and two lieutenants:. Tho regimental staff, who 'run' the regiment, consists of a lieutenantcolonel, a major, an adjutant, a quartermaster, and a certain staff of non-commis-sioned officers. As an example, tako tlie third regiment of infantry, tho old first battalion Auckland infantry. Owing to changes in this regiment, the.ro will he one new company required. Supposing it w;as decided that the Boman Catholics should bo given the opportunity of forming this company. To start with, there are nontenants now in tho regiment who nro entitled to be promoted. One of these is entitled to be captain. He will probably not be a Roman Catholic. There arc numbers of corporals who have passed for sergeants. They would be entitled to ask for promotion to that, position in the new company- These may or may not be Soman Catholics. If.(ho Defence Department, should step in and say: 'We will not consider these legitimato claims to promotion; this must be an entirely Roman Catholic company, officered and cnliMcd as such,' at once there would bo trouble; but it docs not end here. Is the captain of that company, when his turn comes by seniority, to he promoted.'to major? If not, is tile senior lieutenant of the company to become captain of the company to the exclusion of :\ lieutenant of another company senior to him who does not happen to be n Roman Catholic? Is such a stale of things likely to work in the direction of harmony?"