CANNOT BE SPARED

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 28, 1 February 1917, Page 3

CANNOT BE SPARED

PRIESTS AND BROTHERS

THEIR POSITION IN THE BALLOT

CASES BEFORE MILITARY SER

VICE BOARD

According to the evidence given before the Third Military Service Hoard yesterday there are no Catholic priests or Marist Brothers in Jvew Zealand who can be spared for (he military forces outside chaplains' duties. In fact, it was asserted that the number of both now available is quite insufficient to meet requirements.

The appeal of Denis J. Cody, Marist Brother, Wellington, was taken first.

Mr. H V. O'Leary appeared for the appellant, and stated that the Reservist was a member of the Marist Order, engaged in teaching children in- Catholic schools. The appeal was not a personal one, but was made by Archbishop O'Shea. It was submitted that it would be contrary- to public interest to take away any school teacher, no matter at what school he taught. If the Marist Brothers wetie taken away it would practically mean the closing up of all the Catholic schools. There were in New Zealand 47 Marist Brothers, and in the Wellington diocese 14. Of the latter two were over the age limit. About 40 out of the 47 were in the First Division, as the Brothers were bound by vows and were all single men. It stood to reason that if 12 teachers out of 14 were taken in the Wellington diocese the schools would have to close down. The. men were specialists, and were trained over a period of ten years at a school attached to a boys' college at Sydney. It was submitted that it would be impossible to replace the Brothers by lay teachers in either the First or Second Division. All lay teachers were attracted to the Government schools, where the boards were able to offer better money. If the Brothers were called up the Catholic boys would be without teachers. The school properties would be useless, and the scholars would be unloaded on to the State schools.

Capt. Baldwin : Do yon really mean that? *

Mr. O'Leary : Yes, I do. That is what would happen.

Mr. O'Leary handed to the board a statement showing, inter alia, that 420 boys attended schools in Wellington and received instruction from eight Brothers •—an average of fifty-four boys to each Brother. The value of the city school properties was about £14,000. They could not obtain female teachers, as there were not sufficient of the. latter. There were lay female teachers in New Zealand, but not many, and the Church was mainly dependent upon the Sisters. Finally, there was the question of conscience. The Catholics had preferred to establish schools of their own in order that their children should have the moral and religious training considered necessary for their welfare.

Mr. Mack : Do you suggest that owing to the dearth of teachers the State echools will not be able to absorb the boys?

Mr. O'Leary : Yes. I understand the city schools are full now, and all the Bchools would have to provide accommodation for an additional fifty pupils each.

Archbishop O'Shea said Mr. O'Leary's statements were quite correct. The number of children attendicg Catholic schools in the Wellington arch-diocese was 7140, and they were practically all taught by Brothers and Sisters. • Captain Baldwin: Would it not be possible to obtain from Sydney Brothers over or under military age to take the place of those called up in New Zealand?—No, it would be practically impossible. We have difficulty in obtaining sufficient teachers as it is, and have been unable to open several new schools. ' Have you made any endeavour to get students under military age to carry on the work?—No, because we knew it would be useless.

Brother Egbert; head of the Marist Brothers School in Wellington, stated that the present number of teachers was not adequate, and efforts to augment the staff had not met with any success. There were men teaching in the Catholic schools who were really not physically fit to carry on. They remained, however, owing to the dearth of teachers. Young students would be ■ practically useless. The rules of the Order would not permit of students being brought to New Zealand. As soon as the students had completed their training they were required to take the place bf those physically unable to continue with their work.

Captain Baldwin : Can you tell us the number of students at Hunters' Hill between 19 and 20?— About nine.or ten.

How many Brothers are turned out from the college each year?— About three or four.

And that is your solo source of supply —Yes, throughout Australasia. The Board intimated that it would consider its decision.

CATHOLIC PRIESTS. ' The appeal of three Catholic priests was takeai next. They were Fathers Patrick FrancLs Cullen, Nicholas Moore, and James Moro O'Farrell. Aa appeal was also lodged on behalf of James John R-ior-den (4th year theological student). Mr. Francis Cullen represented Archbishop O'Shea, and handed in the various certificates,, including one from the Minister for Defence recommending that the-ap-peals be allowed on the grounds of public interest

Archbishop O'Shea, in answer to Captain Baldwin, stated that there were 220 priests in New Zealand, 105 of then, being in the Wellington Archdiocese. Ten chaplains had. been sent from "Welliiigton and 17 or 18 from New Zealand. Since the war 10 priests had been ordained. The number of priests now was practically the same as before the war. Captain Baldwin: Would it not be possible for the Catholic Church to carry on with less priests?—No, it,would not he possible.

The other Churches are working with less ministers. Can you tell us in what way the Catholic Church is different in that, it requires the same number of men ? —One of the most important services is Mass, and that can .only be celebrated by a duly ordained priest. Mr. Considine: But could not the Masses be curtailed ?—That would mean a great spiritual hardship. But this is a time when the people must be prepared to make sacrifices?— Yes.

How many of the priests are over military age?— About 70. And would some of the others be unfit for military service?— Yes, a great number.

Mr. Mack :Any idea how many?—No, I conid not say before they were examined.

Captain Baldwin: And you say positively that you could not do with any less number of priests?—l do.

No further evidence was called, and tlis.' board reserved its decision.