CLERGY AND THE BALLOT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3038, 27 March 1917, Page 5

CLERGY AND THE BALLOT

: MILITARY BOARD'S IMPORTANT RULING. Bj ' Telegraph—Press Association. - i Blenheim, March 26. At the hearing of' the appeal of 'Father Patrick Fay by the Canterbury Military Appeal board, a copy of a newspaper was produced containing • ft report of Archbishop O'Sbea's appeal in respect «f the same priest in' Wellington, where 1 the, case was adjourned sine • die, with the! condition that: the case bo reheard- before , the Second Division. ' . : The chairman (Mr. Evans, S.M.) gave an important and far-reaching decision ; regarding the Minister's certi- ; ficates/ He said it was a mistake to have' personal ' appeal heard before , one boira and the Archbishop's appeal ; before another. ; Thore was' no Minister's : certificate ' attached .to • this apand ho regretted that ho could not follow entirely the decision of the Wellington Board. He '-.did not consider the Appeal Board could put any condition on, the Minister's certificate unless the. evidence justified the board in over-riding the certificate. The certificate was prima facie sufficient ,evidence of hardship. It became conclusive evidence of hardship, unless evidence to the-contrary was adduced before the board.The <hity of producing such evidence if if. .existed lay .on tie military authorities. If no such evidence was produced the certificate, was: sufficient. Evidence of hardship should be, given to unqualifiedly. /As a. certificate had been • issued in . respect of this priest ,this board would act on it as no evidence to the contrary had been brought before the board; The appeal was adjourned sine die,- without the condition imposed by the Wellington: Board.-