MR MASSEY’S DENIAL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9958, 30 April 1918, Page 8

MR MASSEY’S DENIAL

To the Editor “N.Z. Times.”

Sir When tho recent deputation from the Labour bodies waited on tho Prime Minister to ask for the release of Mr Webb, Mr Massey domed that tho Government had in any way attempted lo influence the Militaiy Seivioo Boards in the matter of the exemption of ministers of religion; and when I insisted that I had seen a statement in print to that effect, I was curtly told that it was not safe tty bcliovo all the newspapers printed. How does Mr Massey’s denial square with the following (which appeared in tho “New Zealand Times” of February 24 th, 1917): “A joint deputation of Methodists and Presbyterians waited upon’tho Hon. Sir James Allen (Act-■ihg-Promior and Minister for Defence) yesterday afternoon to ascertain the position of the clergy generally in regard to tho ballot and exemptions from military; service. Tho deputation was of a private character, but Sir James Allen afterwards stated to a ‘Times’ representative that he had assured tho deputation that tho uso of tho regulation in regard to the Minister for Munitions sending down a certificate of exemption applied to the clergy of all denominations: that there was no partiality at all in tho matter; and that tho only condition was that tho head of each Church should apply only in cases where they deemed it really necessary to make an application. ’ —l am, etc., H. E. HOLLAND.