CORRESPONDENCE

Southland Times, Issue 17968, 8 March 1917, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE

ROMAN CATHOLIC CLERG'S AND THE WAR BALLOT, To the Editor. Sir, —In your issue of to-day the Her. Father O’Neill states that the “Catholic laity of New Zealand would regard conscription of their priests as persecution pure and simple.” Nonsense. It is putting it into their mouths to do so. Owing to the rules of their church the priests must be celibates, namely bachelors, and are of less value to their country than clergymen of the English, Scottish and Irish Protestant Church, who marry’, multiply, and replenish the earth, producing sailors and soldiers, etc., ets. I have a reason for signing this as AOTEA ROA. SKETCHES OF ANZAC. To the Editor. Sir, —I read with interest your report of the proceedings at the Victoria Hall on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the “Sketches of Anzac.” My reason for writing this is to invite every reservist of the First and Second Division to read, mark, and learn the lesson delivered by Mr Seymour, and then realise the absolute necessity for a "Second Division League” in this country.—l am etC ” S. B. MACDONALD, Provisional Chairman, Second Division League, Invercargill.