CLERGY AND EXEMPTIONS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14234, 28 February 1917, Page 7

CLERGY AND EXEMPTIONS.

STATEMENT BY MR ALLEN

NO SECRET UNDERSTANDING,

(Per Press Assoc! atl an.)

WELLINGTON, last night. In the course of an interview to-day Sir James Allen referred to tho report of a deputation from, the Christchurch Ministers' Association which waited on the Hon Mr Russell at Christchurch. "1 notice/ said Sir James, "that there was a feeling that some private arrangement exists between the Government and the Roman Catholio Church. 1 wish to make it perfectly clear that there is no private arrangement between the Government and the Roman Catholic or any othei* church. The arrangement made has been publicly notified and publicly acted upon. In simple language, the arrangement is this — that where the heads of any churches take upon themselves the responsibility of saying that clergymen cannot be spared and that it would not bo m the publio interest to send them to the front, the Minister for Munitions would sign a certificate to that effect to the Military Service .Board before which, -the case came. The regulation is perfectly- clear! It says: 'In determining an appeal, on tho * ground set out m paragraph C, section 18, of the Military [Service Act, the Board shall, unless, ft sees good reason to the contrary, accent as sufficient a certificate from the Minister for Defence, etc.' The Boards, as faa." as I know, have accepted tho certificate as sufficient m the cases of all priests and all clergy, but m the case of two students of tho Roman Catholio Church, for whom certificates were sent m, tlie Board, m its judgment, came to tho. conclusion that there was reason not to accept the certificates. Those axe the only two cases I know of. -Certificates have, been sent down for each of tho denominations m eveiy case where the head of the church has accepted the of asking for them. Tb is jnot correct to say that the Roman Oatlutfic Church is the only one that ha.s made applications for exemptions. As far as I know, nearly every church has made applications for exemption. Ini the telegraphed report of the deputation, Mr Russell said he oould not give a Specific "reply to the assertion that a ffecret understanding existed between the- . Government and the Roman Catholic Church as only the actingPrime Minister could do so. 1 can give a specific reply," added Mr Allen, "there is no secret Understanding between the RomaJi Catholio Church and the Government. There was no understanding that did not i*pply to all other churches, and the otheT churches all know it."