CLERGY & BROTHERS

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 138, 11 June 1917, Page 8

CLERGY & BROTHERS

CALLED UP BY BALLOT

POSITION OF THEOLOGICAL 1 STUDENTS.

The appellants before the First Wellington Military Service Board to-day included six Roman Catholic priests, three Marist Brothers, and three theological students. The priests were the Revs. 0. J. Outtrim, J. Forrestal, W. Byrne, W. O'Sullivan, J. F. O'Connor, M. O'Bierne; the Brothers, Henry Patrick Griffington, Thomas Augustus Holborow, William P. Doody; and the students, John Alexander Higgins, Joseph V. Spillana, and Patrick F.. M'Carthy. All the appeals were officially designated employers' appeals, and were supported by Mr. H. F. O'Leary, on behalf of Archbishop O'Shea.

Mr. O'Leary handed in a letter; from Archbishop O'Shea, stating that the position had not altered in the least since he was Mast before the board.

In reference to the theological students, Capt. Walker, military representative, stated that he had been instructed to oppose any appeal unless it was proved that the appellants had actually taken their vows. This was not stated as being so in the Minister's certificates, then before the board.

Mr. O'Leary: Well, lam sorry I cannot . give the board' that information. The three students now appealing have all completed their four years of studies.

Capt. Walker suggested that the certificates would have to be referred back to the Minister for 1 further information. " I understand," he said, " that the Minister would not issue a certificate unless the vows had been taken."

The course proposed was adopted

In regard to the Marist Brothers, Mr. O'Leary handed to the chairman (Mr. D. G. A. Cooper) a letter. stating that the Reservists could riot be replaced if they were taken away from the present teach-

ing staffs. . Capt. Walker: But, I suppose, Mr. O'Leary intends to prove the case. I think we ought to have some evidence. Mr. O'Leary: Does the Board desire that the whole of the evidence should be repeated again and again? Mr. Cooper: Well, the position is that we. have not heard any evidence. An : other Board took the other cases. Capt. Walker: I don't know anything about it, but there might be a surplus of teachers in the South Island.

Mr. O'Leary stated that there were insufficient teachers.

Capt. Walker: Less than at the beginning of the war? Mr. O'Leary: I -would not say that, but each teacher ,is faking, on the average, 20 more children. The Bo*ird expressed a unanimous desire to hear full evidence, and accordingly adjourned all" three appeals until Friday next. A certificate from the Minister for Defence was handed in in connection with each of the priest's appeals; also a letter from Archbishop O'Shea stating that each appellant was duly ordained, and that his calling up would be a hardship to the Catholic community. In each case the Board adjourned its decision sine die so long as the appellants were reported each month to the Director of Recruiting as remaining in thoir present positions. It would have to be understood, too, that the cases would be liable to review when the First. Division 'was exhausted.