THE BOYS AT THE FRONT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 27, 26 October 1917, Page 4

THE BOYS AT THE FRONT

. A TALK WITH BISHOP CLEARY. The Eomaii Catholic Bishop of Auckland (Dr. Cleary), who has returned to New Zealand after a lengthy visit to Europe, rendered necessary by a physical break-down, certainly looks, much stronger and fitter than when he left the Dominion. He looks belter and ifc better, but he is not yet quite well. Interviews are among the luxuries which the Bishop has been expressly forbidden to indulge in. but he was good enough to spare a few minutes for a short informal talk, with a Dominion representative, and the war naturally formed the chief topio of conversation.

l'"ew people hare had better opportunities of getting first-hand ini'ol'matiou regarding our boys at the front than Bishop Cleary. Ho lived for weeks with them in the front trenches, shaving their joys and sorrows, and tyieir dangers too. He became one of themselves. Ho thinks the New Zealanders are splendid, and the finest lot of fellows imaginable. He regarded it as a privilege' to live with them and to have their company and confidence, and it was a- severe wrench to part from them. Officers and men wanted 'hiin to stay till the end offcthe war, and when they realised that ho really, had to leave they gave him a eend-off so hearty' and so affectionate 'that he will never forget, it. No one is in a. position to speak more authoritatively i tlwn pishifp l Cleary ve* garding the' conditions that prevail at the front. He is a keen observer, end enjoyed the confidence of officers and men. It is therefore satisfactory to have his definite assurance that our men were well clothed, well fed, and well looked nfter. He says the peoplo of New Zealand need lifive no misgivings on. this point. Everything that science, medical skill, and efficient organisation can do to keep the men physically fit and in good spirits is being done. No army in the history of the world has been so well ] cared for. The standard of health among. the New Zeola'ndei-3 is wonderfully lngh. The Bishop spoko very highly o® the work which is being done by fto chap-1 lains of various faiths. Men 01 the right sort are being sent,'and they have gamed the confidence of the men. The chaplains are, he says, a band of brothers. He madb many valued friendships among them. They trust 'one another fully , and help each other in every possible wav. Speaking for his own Church, ha is quite certain that the services of the - chaplains are greatly appreciated by the men in the trenches, and he has every reason to believe that the same may bo said of the other denominations. Referring to the exemption of the clergy from conscription, the Bishop said that before the war there was a serious shortage of priests, and that ehortago has since become muok more serious". His Chuxcli has great difficulty in providing for the religious fteeds of its people in New Zealand, aßd has also to provide its share of the military chaplains. Thero is need, at present for the establishment of several more parishes in his own diocese, but the Tequired number of clergy cannot be found. ', Ho .is strongly of opinion that the Marist Brothers should bo exempt from conscription. The Bishop leaves for Auckland to-day. '