CATHOLIC FEDERATION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1988, 19 February 1914, Page 7

CATHOLIC FEDERATION.

MEETING OF DOMINION EXECO- j TIVE COUNCIL. ; j The second lialf-jearlv meeting of the Dominion Council and Executive oi tho .Now Zealand Catholic Federation was hold yesterday. The'foUowiiifi delegates were present:—Wellington diocese, Mi'F. K. Reeves, president, of tho Dominion Executive (ill the chair): tlw Very llev. Dean Ilolley, Mr. .1. W. Callaghan; Auckland, Jlessrs. B. Jl'Loughliii, F. G. J. Tomm, and J. J. Furlong; Christcluirch, Chancellor Price, tho Very Hev. Dean Hyland, awl Mr. R. Hayward; Dunedin, Very Rev, .Father Coffey> Adm., and Messrs. 31. I'. Slieil and D. Poppehvell. , In welcoming the delegates the chairman said that tho federation movement ,v;as even now only in its initial stages, and though a very considerable amount of. spado work had been done, a greatdeal still remained to bo accomplished. "We rely on Itho common sense of the Catholic coninuinitv," he jsaid. "to gradually and finally recognise the absolute necessity for a system which will result in a policy of cohesion, so that wp may bo able eventually to present <iur demands for justice backed up by a united body." Going into the details of the _ wo , r ! c that has been done, the executive in its annual report refers, amongst other matters, to tho case of neglected children. Recognising the importance < f the matter, it circularised brandies for the names of Catholic families willing to tako into their homes (for the usual Government consideration) Catholic children-committed through_ the Ccrnrts to the care of the Education Department. This work will bo carefully watched, and as a result it is hoped that one of the loopholes for leakage from the Cliiirch will 'to. a great extent be minimised. The Employment Bureau, it reports, is a boon for employers aiid employees alike, in all parts'of "tho Dominion; 107 "people were directed to employment during the live months ended January 31. ... The 'accommodation' "register is another work that has proved a boon, and as soon as it hecalii.es better known its. use will he more availed.'of. A great difficulty is, however, experienced in obtaining suitable lodgings for yOUBtt women'employed in business. A hostel would bo an undoubted success, and would fill a great need. Although only in. existenco for five months, tho following figures speak for themselves:— Catholic houses registered.. 47 ; Catholics directcd'to such registered houses, 138. Brief addresses were delivered by His Grace Archbishop Redwood and Coadjutor-Archbishop O'Sliea, both or whom congratulated the conference on the progress of the federation movement, and promised a continue tied of their support in furthering its aims. An interesting address, on the sub' ject of "Organisation" was given by the organiser, .Mr G. Girliiig-Butcher, who emphasised the fact that the parish committees constitute the most, important part of tho federation system, and that they should be fully impressed with a sense of their responsibilities. ._ ' . •Tho conference reaffirmed "the jjl'iiiciplo set out in the constitution, that the federation "is not a political party organisation, and <loes .not seek' to touch politics except -where politics .touch religion, or where ths civil rights and,liberties of Catholics a.re affctftcd. It 'was decided to request tho Do- ■ Tuiiiioii Executive to approach the hierarchy in regard tft the formation of .:a.tcoiistructij;e nolKOjt eqnaeetion with -the erfiiciitTWi nl^-ofi{Alt.;; JI ' A hearty vote'of'thanks was nassedto Mr. Martin Kennedy for having luiveii the 'fedefaiioiV'tliffj p e of rooms '.for offices free of rqOfc, , '":lnii J tl.iSnks wOfu .also accorded the 'Borri'immi Executive and al (the officers who .have hi en engaged in' the", work",<sf "the 'federation, i ';dul'ing..the past . , .1