THE EIGHTH CONTINGENT

Evening Star, Issue 11673, 4 February 1902, Page 4

THE EIGHTH CONTINGENT

THE QUESTION OP CHAPLAINS.

THE PREMIER SCORES. [Special to the Stab.] NELSON, February 4. The following characteristic telegrams have passed between the member for Ashley and the Premier: —“ Gust, February 3. Do the Government intend arranging for chaplains to go with the Eighth Contingent? The young men of our contingents are drawn from Christian families, and should not be treated as though they were dumb-driven cattle. Chaplain should be an in dispensable portion of the contingents, and the Government should either provide chaplains or arrange for the churches to do so. If the Government fail to do their duty in this matter the highest interests of our men will be neglected, end the consciences of the best portion -of our people will be rounded.”

The Premier replied to Mr Meredith as follows:—“ Probably owing to your being in the country you have not noticed what has been going on around you. A chaplain for the Eighth Contingent left with the Surrey from Auckland on Saturday last, and a chaplain for the Ninth Contingent has also been arranged for. I think it will be Captain-chaplain the Rev. Mr Bates, of Invercargill. It is not a case-of dumb-driven cattle, but of some who must be either deaf or blind, or can neither read nor see. It has appeared, in most of the papers that the Rev. Mr Compton was going as chaplain to the Eighth, and that a chaplain for the Ninth was to be arranged for. This is the first time we have had an opportunity of sending a full column, and as the Imperial regulations make provision for a chaplain the Government have embraced the opportunity, and I am delighted to know that this, at all events, meets with your approval. The men have not been neglected, nor have their consciences been violated.”