ROMAN CATHOLIC FEDERRTION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2709, 2 March 1916, Page 9

ROMAN CATHOLIC FEDERRTION

DOMINION COUNCIL IN SESSION

The half-yearly meeting of tho Dominion Council of tho New Zealand Roman Catholic Federation commenced today at St. Patrick's Hall, Boulcott Street. Mr. D. L. l'oppelwell (Dunedin), ' president, occupied the chair, and the following delegates were liresent: —Rev. Father Coffey (Administrator, Dunedin), Rev. Dean Hyland and Rev. Father Kerley (Christcliurch), Rev. Father Hurley, Mr. J. J. L. Burke, Mr. J. Diiggan, Mr. W, F. Johnson, Mr. P. D. Hoskins (Wellingtcn), Rev. Fathers Foi'de and Cahill and Mr. P. E. Dromgool (Auckland). His Grace Archbishop O'Sliea represented the Hierarchy, and letters of apology,- expressing good wishes for the success of the meeting, were read from His Excellency Archbishop Cerretti, Apostolic Delegate, and his Graco Archbishop Redwood, S.M. In extending a welcome to His Grace and tho visiting delegates, the president remarked that the most important event of the . past six months had been the visit .of the Apostolic Delegate to New Zealand. Occasion had been taken to express to His Holiness the Pope, through the Delegate, the loyalty of the Roman Catholic Federation, and its members had everywhere been prominent in the function's held to welcome His Excellency. Mr. Poppelwell also referred to the consecration of the Right Rev. Monsignor Brodie to, the See of Christcliurch. His Lordship had been a delegate to the last meeting of the council, and members had then an opportunity of judging what an excellent choice had been made by the authorities for. the important position to which he had since been appointed. He extended tho congratulations of the council to his lordship. The excellent result of the representative conference called by the federation on the film censorship question, and the promise given to the deputation which subsequently waited on the Minister of Interna} v Affairs that amending legislation would be introduced next session, were matters for satisfaction. Tho church hall, built by the federation, had been a means of assisting tho very largo number . of Roman Catholic soldiers of the Expeditionary Forces passing through Trentham Camp. A scheme that had been inaugurated for the building of. a larger church-hall at the now Featherston Camp had received the approval of the Hierarchy, and' the- hall was now in course of erection, under the supervision of the ltev. Chaplain-Captain Segrief. Roman Catholics had done more than their share in providing soldiers, for the Empire, and tho roll of honour now being compiled would show that a great many names of Roman Catholics appeared in the casualty lists. (Applause.) Mis Grace Archbishop O'Siiea congratulated the council on the work accomplished in the past six months. He spoke of his recent visit to America, where he had attended a great federation conference in Ohio, at which 25 prelates had been present, and many thousands of laymen. He hoped that the New Zealand Roman Catholic Federation w-ould increase and accomplish as great work as that in America. Excellent reports of work done by the Dioccsan Councils and'brandies in the four dioceses were read, and showed a steady increase of membership, and much social work inaugurated. A feature of the work in Christcliurch and Wellington was the establishment of hostels for _ Roman Catholic women obliged to live, away from home, and travelling. It was hoped shortly to have such hostels in each of tho principal centres. The half-yearly report of the Dominion Executive, the. substance of which has been already published, was received and adopted, and tho treasurer's interim statement of receipts and expenditure, which showed a healthy estate of finance, was also adopted. The secretary reported upon his work during the half-year, and received the {hanks of the council for the work done by him. A discussion on the , various . remits sent forward ensued, amongst others being various phases of the education question, affecting Roman Catholic colleges and schools, the Roman Catholic church-halls at Trentham and Featherston, tho work of the Dominion organisation, Catholic Rolls ■'of Honour in connection with tho Expeditionary Forces, publication of a Federation magazine, the promotion of social sconce study, the care of Roman Catholic soldiers in Egypt and behind the firing lines, and the establishment of' a Roman Catholic Field Service Fund. Resolutions conveying the loyalty of the Federation to - the Holy See' were ordere'd' to be transmitted to His Excellency Archbishop Cerretti, together with the Federation's wishes .for the health and success of tho - Apostolic Delegate in his high and important mission. A further resolution of congratulation and homage .was ordered to be conveyed to the Rt. Rev. Dr. Brodie, the'newly-consecrated Bishop of Christchurch. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting.