CLERGY AND THE BALLOT
LATEST APPEALS CASES OF MARIST BROTHERS ' 'Appeals for Catholic priests, theological Btudents, and Marist Sonool teatuers were heard by the ITirat Wellington Military ■Service Board yesterday. Tho theological students appealed for .were: Patrick Francis M'Cartby, John Alexander Higgins, and Joseph Victor bpillane, all of whom are at Greenmeadows, Hawke's Bay. The military representative on the ward said he had. been instructed to oppose all appeals for theological students, unless it was proved that the students had taken their vows. Mr. H. P. O'Leary, who represented the Catholic hierarchy, said ho could not give the information as a matter of certainly. The case was adjourned eo that the information could be procured. The priests appealed for were: Cornelius James Outtrim, Wellington; James Forrestall, lower Hutt; William Byrne, Wellington; William O'Sullivan, Wellington; John Francis O'Connor, Wellington; and Michael O'Beirno, Cartcrtou. _ i The chairman of the board (Mr. D. G. 'A. Cooper, S.M.) said that in every case the board would reserve its decision sine die, and grant suspension from military service meantime, provided that it was Toported from time to time that tho reservist was still in the same position. It ■was to bo understood that the case might come up for revision before the Second Division was called up. Appeals were lodged for the following Marist teachers:—Henry Patrick Skift'ington, Napier; Thomas Augustus Holdbrow Wangiurai; and William Patryb Doodv,' Wellington. Mr. O'Leary handed in a letter from the Archbishop stating that the position regarding teachei-3 in the, archdiocese had not changed sinco former appeals for Marist Brothers were, before the board, and the teachers appealed for could not be replaced. Captain Walker-. That only refers to •Wellington archdiocese. There may be a surplus of Marist teachers in other parts . of Jfew Zealand. Mr. O'Leary. The last portion of the \ Archbishop's letter disposes of that; it says they could not be replaced. The ohairmaii: Xo; it only says they eould not be replaced from the Wellington archdiocese. Mr. O'Leary: We tried to replace them from Australia ..and could not do ?o. Captain Walker-. I think some evidence should bo given. Mr. O'Leary: Before the other board a similar letter was acted on. That is why - we have not brought evidence. Does this board require tho same evidence to l>6 gono through over and over again whe.n these appeals come before it? The chairman: The trouble h wo don't know anything about this particular mattor. We must have something on which to base a decision. Mr. D. MT/aren, a member of the board: We have had appeals before us elsewhere respecting men from scholastic institutions, and in each case we have required evidence. Captain Walker: Do I understand the staffs of these schools are down to ledrocli:? Mr. O'Leary: Tes, that has been proved absolutely. Captain Walker: Less now than before the war? Mr. O'Leary: I can't say that, but the average teacher in these schools is teaching twenty more pupils than the average teacher in the public schools. ■The oases were adjourned till Friday. An appeal for Charles Palmer, Anglican clergyman, Shannon, was withdrawn, ond it was stated that it was understood that the reservist had not passed the medical test. MARIST BROTHERS AND THE WAR APPEALS BEFORE CANTBEBOHY BOARD. 'By Telegraph—Press Association. Chrlstchurch, June 11. At the sitting of the Canterbury ADpeal Board to-day Bishop Krodio appealed on .behalf of two Marist Brothers. Majpr Gresson,, military representa- ' tive. submitted it was not in the interest of the country,, when it was under war conditions, that educational institutions ehould not have to suffer sumo reduction in l their teaching staffs. He eubinitted that if all appeals of Marist Brothers were adjourned sine diethey would have crcater consideration than was given to other bodies. This was not.merely his cwn view. Hβ rend a Press Association message from Auckland recording tho protest of the Auckland Auxiliary of the Baptist Union. Major Gresson said that considering the Marist schools had suffered no reduction of teaching staff, when tho country was under war conditions, they should not be permitted to continue without contributing something to. the man power so urgently required. . Bishop Brodie replied that the fact that there had been no reduction of teaching; staff of the Marist Brothers' schools was because they were working on thfl minimum when the war started. As he had pointed out in previous case? it. was impossible to uet more teachers. ■ Bishop Brodie went on to protest against trie introduction into tho hearing of these nnpeale of the resolution of the religious body in Auckland. Personally, he had to refrain from commenting on that resolution for -natriotic reasons. It was unfair and insulting to ihe board to think it could b» influenced like that. Tf such influence' wns going to be u?ed, there were inO.Oflfl Catholics in New Zealand, and their influence could be used as well. There' were 14,(100 or 15.001) Catholics from New Zealand in the trenches. Tlipr W p,-e not joins to submit to any influence of this, sort beiji-r used. It was not evidence. He admitted the zeal of the military representative, but questioned the propriety of this refolution from Auckland being brought forward at 'all. The chairman (Mr. JI. AV. Bishop, S.M.) said it certainly was not evidence. Of course, the military representative was entitled to look at the position centrally, but the board would not attach the slightest importance to this thinjr. Bishop Brodie: It is very unbecoming in anyone to brine forward.such a protest. Major Gresson said he liad contended that Marist Brothers were receiving a. greater degree of attention than other bodies, and he had put forward tho resolution of a properly constituted religious bodyd» show it was of the same opinion. Ho put it forward to show that his con-' tention was not a mere personal opinion. The chairman said it tended rather to " Sectarianism. The boards dealt with theso appeals purely on general patriotic grounds, and the ground of public interest. These other bodies had not made RDneals and their position had not bt-cn judicially decided. . It was time enough for them to make protests when they came before the board. After consultation with other members nf tho board, the chairman paid there ■was not tho pliehtest reason for goinz liaclc on flie previous decision of the board. Whatever his personal opinion •jnieht be, thp board, hnd to deal with those cafes on general principles. Ho flid not think there was any analore bejtweon the position of the Marist Brothers and the position r>f other te.ichrrs. Tho appeals were adjourned sine die, nibiect to revision when tho First Division is oshaueted.
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Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3108, 12 June 1917, Page 6
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1,105CLERGY AND THE BALLOT Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3108, 12 June 1917, Page 6
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