EXEMPTION OF CLERGY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 964, 14 March 1917, Page 8

EXEMPTION OF CLERGY.

CHAIRMAN'S STRONG REMARKS. Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 13. The Third Military Service Board to-day adjourned sine die appeals lodged on behalf of three Roman Catholic priests—John E. Ainsworth, Daniel P. Cronin, and Bernard J. Ryan—Archbishop O'Shea having furnished certificates that they were essential to the proper conduct of the Church's activities. The board indicated that the position would be reviewed before ihe First Division was exhausted. In the case of a Marist Brother, Michael Jackson, an adjournment sine die was granted, appellant to remain in his present occupation. Brief but forceful remarks were made by the chairman of the Third Wellington Military Service Board (Mr W. 11. S. Moorhouse) to-day in reference to a statement made by Archbishop O'Shea in an address delivered at Wellington on February 25. Mr Moorhouse said he was sorry that Archbishop O'Shea was not preisent, because he desired to know ! whether the report as published in | the newspapers was correct. One thing had been said to which he s.rongly objected. Archbishop O'Shea '•ad slated (according to the report) hj d be was sorry lo have to say that sectarian bigots had got to work, with (he result that the week before last the Military Board in the city had refused to exempt two theological students." Of course, said Mr Moorhouse, while the board was doing the work it was engaged in, it must expect uncharitable criticism from the ungodly, which was bound to offend, but it did not expect that from high authorities of the Christian Church. i