HOSPITAL SHIP

Grey River Argus, 12 June 1915, Page 8

HOSPITAL SHIP

TWO CHAPLAINS APPOINTED. NON-COMFOBMISTS NOT EEPEESENTED. [PEE PBESB ASSOCIATION — COPYRIGHT-] WELLINGTON, June 11. Tlie Hospital skip -will carry two chaplains, one representing the Church, of England and the other the Eoman Catholic body, and some Non-cmform-ists have been urging the Minister of Defence to add a third chaplain, chosen from, the ranks of the Non-csnformist clergy. The Minister has explained that he cannot make any change in the existing arrangements, which has been laid down by the Imperial authorities, and he made further reference to the subject this evening in the course of a statement to a pressman. "It is not the decision of the New Zealand Government that only two chap lams, one an Anglican and the other a Eoman Catholic may go with the hospital ship," stated Mr. Allen. "That is the decision of the Imperial authorities. We asked how many chaplains would be required, and have made the arrangement in accordance with their reply. We cannot depart from that arrangement. It seems to be that two chaplain will be ample for a suip tliat will never carry more than 400 men, and this certainly is not the time for raising sectarian question. The Nonconformists cannot imagine that members of their congregation will suffer by the ministrations of an Anglican chaplain for a few days."