A LIE NAILED

New Zealand Tablet, 5 December 1918, Page 21

A LIE NAILED

In the first issue of the official organ of the P.P.A. reference was made to -Father John Brennan, whose name was appended to, the recent scries of challenges to that organisation, with, the result that Father Brennan took action, which has caused the P.P.A. authorities to insert the following apology in the N .Z. Herald and A uckland Star of November 16, 1918 APOLOGY. In the official organ of the Protestant Political Association (the Aew ’Zealand Sentinel ) for October 21, 1918, reference was made to Father Brennan, whose name was appended to every one of the challenges recently published in the Auckland Star and New Zealand Herald. It was stated in the publication that to every one of the challenges was appended the designation, “Late Chaplain to New Zealand Expeditionary Forces.” It was also stated that the appending of that designation was an appeal to the patriotic sentiment and sympathy of the unthinking. It alleged that the full active service of Father Brennan consisted of three days, and that the cost to the people of New Zealand was over £270. It imputed that Father Brennan was guilty of effrontery in parading such a service and seeking to win unmerited sympathy upon it. We have been supplied, at the instance of Father Brennan, with the actual facts. They are as follows;-—-Father Brennan sailed from New Zealand on October 9, 1915, as a chaplain to the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces on the Transport Aparima. He arrived in Suez on November 22, 1915. He acted as chaplain to various units from the last-mentioned date until January' 19, 1916. He then sailed for Salonika, and served as chaplain there from about January 24, 1916, until March 1, in the same year. He was ordered back to Egypt in the first week in March, 1916,, and was ordered to New Zealand on March 25 on account of ill-health by a medical board. He arrived in New Zealand about the end of May, 1916, and was discharged Y'" from further service at Port Chalmers about the first week in June in the same year. We unreservedly accept as correct the information supplied to us. We regret that the publication in the A ear Zealand Sentinel mis-stated the facts. We particularly regret that we imputed to Father Brennan that his active service consisted of only three days, and that the cost to the people of Npw Zealand was over ■£27o. The imputation that he was guilty of effrontery (as alleged) is quite unfounded. We desire now to apologise to the Reverend Father Brennan for the statements complained of. Signed by J. Slingsby Reekie and the Business Printing Works, Ltd.: The Business Printing Works, Limited. (N. Mcßouie, Secretary.) J. Slingsby Reekie, > Publisher A tie Zealand Sentinel. Witness to both signatures— J. F. W. Dickson, Solicitor, Auckland.