HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 781, 2 April 1910, Page 3

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.

THE THREATENED DISRUPTION. AN ANIMATED DEBATE. PRINCIPLE OF UNITY AFFIRMED. On resuming at 10 a.m. yesterday at St. Patrick's Hall, Boulcott Street, the delegates to the triennial conference of the H.A.C.B. Society continued the debate on the threatened ■ creation of separate districts, in place of the single district now administered by a New Zealand executive. Bro. P. J. Nerheny, president of the society, occupied the chair, and in'opening tho proceedings urged the delegates- to refrain from tho introduction of anything -in the nature of personal feeling or local jealousies. He hoped that the whole tenor of the debate would show that every delegate had the general interests of the society at heart, and was prepared to support tho principle of a unified society. . . A Plea for Unity. Bro. Casey (Groymouth) said that the Grey branch had unanimously affirmed the principle of unity in the society, and was entirely opposed to disruption. He had been extremely sorry tp notice the announcement in the "New Zealand Tablet" of the intention to form a new district in Auckland in the event of the removal of 'headquarters to Wellington. A proposition that had been consistently defeated at previous conferences might well have been left to lie for a while, until such time as there might be evidenced a decided change in the general conditions and policy of the society. The same arguments as were being adduced at the present .conference were adduced, previously. Why persist? In order that they as a society might present, in defence of their spiritual and temporal interests, a' solid and united phalanx, they must preserve the unity of tho whole. (Applause.) Auckland V. Wellington. Bro. Doolan ■ (Christchurch) said that he rose with somo diffidence to.represent the views of his branch. Thoso whom ho represented wero in open revolt against tho district administration. The great bone of contention at. each conference, lie considered, , had 'been 'that of Auckland versus Wellington. What was this question? Wellington, Dunedin, and Ohristchurch had been regularly out-voted in the battle for the removal—by district votes. (Hear, hear.) A district officer, when speaking to any question before tho conference, exercised a double influence upon tho minds of tho voters. The opinion of such men carried weight. He regretted that dissensions 'existed in the North Island. It was not soin the South. r

Bro. Duggan (Oamaru) rose to. a point of order. The spoaker, ho contended, was misrepresenting the South. He should allow the;other branches to speak for themselves.' ; Tho president agreed. The speaker should confine himself to what the Christchurch branch had affirmed upon this matter. ' t ■

Bro. Doolan said that ho was in a position to vouch for the minds of eight branches on this subject, and who were prepared to, rally round the flag which Christehurch was prepared to hoist. Could Bro. Duggan say as much? ( Bro. Duggan remarked that had he been so disposed he could have placed himself in a position to vouch for more tihan eight. . ■ ■• • "Refrain From Washing Dirty Linen." Bro. Doolan, resuming, indulged in some criticisms of tlio executive, but, was frequently called to order by the president, who urged him to confine his' remarks to the point at issue,. His. criticisms could be voiced when miscellaneous business was being dealt .with; Bro. Sheonan implored Bro. Doolan to follow the very excellent example of the delegate from Dunedin (Bro. Marlow) and "for goodness' sake" to refrain- from "washing dirty linen." Bro. Doolan, continuing, indulged in some references to the district deputies when ho was again pulled up by the president. Bro. Doolan's remarks, said the president, with some warmth, amounted to an insult, and a very gross ono at that. (Hear, hear.) Bro. Doolan: concluded by expressing his belief that the existence of two separate districts,- with lieadquarfcers, need not imply, disruption. '-..■' '■ ■ Bro. Hooker (Hawera) said that he was rattier disgusted with the tenor of some' of the remarks which bad been passed. The, Hawera^branchy in giving notice of motion, merely desired to nave this question settled once and for. all —it had no wish to accomplish ■the disruption of the society. Their inconsistency. •Bro. Dennehy (Milton) sarcastically ■reforred to -tiho fact that whilo in. one ■breath they, as a society, wore urging tfhe Irish party to preserve a united front, on the Home Rule question, they were, among themselves,. most inconsistently debating tho question of di- ; vision. He objected to a remark which had. been., passed the previous day, that tihe District . Executive had brought delegates from the south to represent branches (wrth which they had'no conmeotion) by proxy. Ho was one of those alluded to;. As a . resident' of Timaru, he had not. sought the representation of Milton, but he' had been prominently connected with the society for years, and he would be glad to know ivhb was better fitted to speak at the meeting than he. '-.'.' The President drew the attention, of the meoting to the necessity for curtailing tho debate, or they would never got through. ■■~' Bro. Hodgins (Lower Hutt) protested against the proceedings. Such personal recriminations were, to his. mind,, disgraceful. A Suggestion Ruled Out. Bro. M'Keown (Wellington) said that the matter resolved-iteelf- into, triangular duel between . three.. sections. Let those three, .he. urged,.'thresh out their differences in committee. ■ It was most unbecoming and unworthy of them as Hibernians, to allow these taunts and insults to" be thrown across thetable. Had the indiscretion of the District Board in tho matter of the circular not' occurred, this situation would not have been created. Wellington, ChristchuTch, and Dunedin, up till then had not entertained any suggestion of dissension. That had come from Auckland. "Dissension," was a word which should "stink in the nostrils of every Hibernian." He moved that the Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin delegates be allowed; to confer on this matter and report to the meeting at 2.30 p.m. The president was afraid that such a course would-deprive those who had not Bppken of the right of addressing the meeting. Ho went on to review the position as it concerned Auckland. The Auckland executive, which was also the New Zealand executive, had decided, in view of the continued resolutions of Wellington in regard to tho removal of headquarters, to form a separate district. When the matter was dealt with by tho District Executive, he, as chairman, said/that the branches throughout New Zealand should bo informed.of the action proposed by Auckland, and" for doing this the executive had lw?on condemned. In explanation of thp accusation, made, tho previous d.'iy. that thron Auckland delegates hold proxies for South Island brunches, ho said that tkooo toirtlomon, dosirinc to scend their

holiday in AYellington, and wishing to meet their Hibernian friends, were given proxies to attend tho conference.

Bro. M'Keown's motion was ruled inadmissible. . . ■ ■ .' Bro. Behan (Auckland) insisted that tile Auckland branch had had nothing to do with tho issuing of the circular to tho branches. The responsibility for ■that lay with tho district executive, which was not to be confused with the branch. The branch had, as a matter of fact, discussed the position created by the trouble with Wellington, but only with regard to. the advisablenessof protecting the Auckland interests. The president said that the issue of the circular was the result of what had appeared in tho Auckland press. .In consequence of what had been published in one of tho Auckland papers, the executive had resolved to put the position before the branches. . Chairman's Ruling Objected to. Bro. Callaghan (Wellington) desired to tako a vote on tho Tuling of the chair with regard to Mr. M'Kcown's motion," but was ruled out of order, as he had already spoken. He protested that unless there was some definite issue before the meeting, the debate l.would lead nowhere. He hoped someone would move in the matter. I After further discussion, it was decided by the president that the Auckland delegates having stated their position, Bro. M'Keown should v be allowed to put his proposition to the meeting. Bi'o. M'Keoivn accordingly moved that the representatives of tho Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin branches meet in .conference on the subject under debate, and report to the meeting at 3.30 p.m. Hβ hoped that the meeting would adopt his view that such a course would bring about an amicable settlement of any differences which might exist, and clear away misunderstandings. . The motion was carried on the voices, and the meeting then adjourned for lunch. . • : For Unity. Whon the conference resumed lato in tho afternoon, the committee submitted the following resolution': — "That this meeting of the Dis- . trict Executive and delegates from ; the Auckland, Wellington, Christcburch, and Dunedin branches afiinn tho principle of unity, and pledge themselves and their respective bodies in the cause of unity, and that a "small, sub-committee be formed to go into details." Bro. J. J. Marlow (Dunedin) in moving the : adoption of , the report, said that nothing could, give him more pleasure than the resolution arrived at. Bro. Corrigan (Waimate) seconded the' motion, which was adopted unanimously, with applause. A motion was passed, with a'few dissentients, to the following effect:— "That the entrance fees of. reduced benefit members be as follows, according to age at entry:—Rule 75, Clause 1, 16 and under 25 years 2s. 6d., 25 and under 30 years, ss. The opposition to the motion was based on the opinion that reduced benefit members should not be encouraged. A majority of the conference, however, was evidently of opinion that this provision was useful for bringing young members into the societies.

A discussion took place as to whether the next triennial conference should be held at Napier, Westport, or Invercargill., It was decided to hold the meeting at Napier. ■•.•-' : A Popular Report. , At the evening session the following report was presented by the committee and unanimously adopted:— (l.)_ That a boy be engaged to assist the district secretary. (2.) That threo nominators for the office of ; deputy be made I 'by the parent, branch in each district where a deputy is required, and submitted to "all, the brandies in such district, the branches then to call a special meeting and take a vote on such deputy.. The candidate/ who. receives the highest number of votes!fronl'among the said branches to, be' recommended to the district cxecui tive for approval. (3.)' The. first election to, take place at the half-yearly meeting* in June, 1910, and thereafter every three years. _ (4.) That district officers should insist on the returns from branches being carried out according to rule, and that no further leniency should be extended to them.other than.provided in tho rule referred to. . (5.) That no proxy delegate should be allowed to act at triennial movable meetings who ' was not directly appointed by the branch 'which he represents., '•'"■■■ -i : (6.) That consideration of "the question of forming two" districts in. New Zealand be held over until the triennial movable meeting in 1916. Several speakers' expressed their cordial satisfaction with the report, which. was\ adopted *with applause. The president expressed the hope -that by 1916 the formation of two districts would become imperative, owing to the great increase and development of the societies. . , . . ■ ■ ■ Proposed Dominion Journal. Tho' question of establishing a Catholic organ, which should enunciate the principles, opinions, and deliberai tions of all. Catholic socioties, inclnd-' ' ing. the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Catholic clubs and Hibernian societies, was referred,; after discussion, to the district executive, with instructions to refer the matter to. branches. The Late Bishop Lenihan. A resolution of appreciation and regret was passed in connection with the death of the late Bishop Lonihan, of Auckland. . Election of Officers. After votes of thanks, and congratulations, had been passed, officers were elected as follow:—District president, Bro. C. Mulholland*; district vice-presi-dent, Bro. H. Nerheny; district'treasurer, Bro. M. J. Sheahan; district secretary, W. Kane; district auditors, Bros. J. B. R. Stead and J. Smith.