CATHOLICS AND THE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17067, 27 July 1917, Page 5

CATHOLICS AND THE

RESPONSE TO TTTR CIAT.T, a '^H CFbom Ora Owh CtmßßßroKDsnrEj WELLINGTON, July 26 At a meeting of the Marist Brothers 033 HI Boys' association, held for the purpose offlfl arranging the celebration of the centenary flfl of the Marist Brothers Order, a motion was flfl passed emphatically protesting against statement made in the House of Repre-'flfl sentatives recently by Mr Nosworthy regarding tho enlistment of Catholics, particularly regarding' tho exemption offlfl Marist Brothers. In s=pport of the motion flfll the following position was outlined: (l"Bfl our school roll of honour in Welbngton flflj tains upwards of 400 names, among which'■■ are those of the late Captain A. ShouVflflJ who was awarded the Victoria Gross, the 111 Military Cross, and the Distinguished Con-'BBJ duct Medal, for conspicuous bravery tbe'flflj late Chaplain-major M'Meaanun, reconV'Bßl mended for the Victoria Cross, Lietrtenant'Bßl Wilbam Healy, who was awarded the MilpflH tary Cross, and of many other wmnera of distinction; (2), that the First New Zealand flß Expeditionary Force, consisting of 1400 meaJlH hurriedly despatched, contamed no fewer ■■ than 500 Catholics; (SJ, that in March ofH this year, from a basis of calculatton foi- ■! lowed by the Eefenoo authorities of viding- a Ca&olic chaplain for every IOOOIH men, we had then in the ranis 14,000 ■! number well ahead of our due pro-IB portion, and as the compulsory system rot then been long in force, it caa be seen ■■ that Catholics have jomed in such creditable iH numbers under the voluntary system- (4)/IBj that Catholic clubs and associations have sponded iu a manner worthy of admirationSßßl The Marist Brothers Old Boys' Assoctation of 111 CThristchurch, out of 280 members had 220 members to tio ranks, under the tary system, tho kindred association of land had npvsr sent 170 out of 180 members. and tho Hamilton Catholic Ctub sent 82 oui of. its 100 These figures ars typical of uniformly .remariabla of Catholics of the dominion;' (5), that Catholics have fir 35 years contributed hundreds of thousands of pounds towards the secular system of education of New Zealand, which they cannot ously accept, in addition io their own schools, it wonld bo against jjublic interest and a matter of undue ehip to conscript tho 35 rohgious who are absotetely essenfaal for the teaching of tae 2000 boy» in tbeir ai£odk^^|