THE DIGGERS AND ARMISTICE DAY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19958, 16 November 1934, Page 13

THE DIGGERS AND ARMISTICE DAY.

To the Editor of “ The Timaru Herald ” Sir, —“Disgusted Digger,” who writes in your issue of to-day, is obviously misinformed. The executive attended the function at the War Memorial on Armistice Day, and it should be noted that both vice-presidents were present. The church parade was not an official association matter. The New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association is nonsectarian. Religious observance is purely an individual matter, and if any particular church invites members of the association to attend a service, the question of attendance is not one for the executive’s jurisdiction. It follows, of course, that the association has no provision in its constitution for a padre, and no minister is entitled to the designation of “Our Padre.” The minister in question issued an invitation to members of the association to attend a service at his church, and as a matter of courtesy, this invitation was advertised by the association. It is to be hoped that this reply will close the discussion, which has been caused by “Disgusted Digger’s” unfortunate faux pas.—l am, etc., J. W. HINCHEY. Timaru, November 14.