CATHOLIC FEDERATION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3006, 17 February 1917, Page 14

CATHOLIC FEDERATION

• HALF-YEARLY REPORT. The report of the Dominion Executive, to be presented to the 'half-yearly meeting of the Dominion Council of tlie New Zealand Catholic federation, states-.— "Quite tho most important event' of the past half-year has been the response to the council's request, through llonsignor Cerretti, apostolic delegate, _for the blessing of His Holiness Benedict XV, upon -the New Zealand Catholic Federation. In October last His Excellency. transmitted tho original letter of His Eminence Cardinal Gasparri, Secretarv of State, conveying to all members of the federation, and especially to the council, His Holiness's highest praiso and encouragement, and imparting to the work itself, and to all its members of the Apostolic Blessing. "Congratulations have heen extended to His Lordship Bishop Brodie, and the executive of the. Chrislchurch Diocesan Council upon the success which attended the congress held in November last. Tho pan-Southland Catholic gathering is again being held this month. Invercarjril I being the meeting place. Tho executive trust that the convention to he held in Auckland immediately after the Dominion Council meeting will prove to be the forerunner of many equally successful gatherings. Invitations have been extended by the /Australian Federation to members of the N.Z.C.F.. to attend the ;«uh/ial conferences at Sydney, Hobart, and Melbourne. ' . "The Kitchener Scholarships being available for tenure at Catholic secondary schools engaged the attention of tho executive. Letters were _ written to, every member of the National Government, setting out the position of Catholics in the matter. Later it was announced ithat it was proposed that the scholarships should be tenable only at English or Australian Naval Colleges, and that only students who hat} attained a matriculation. standard should be eligible to compete for them, thus practically debarring any but the sons of well-to-do parents from participation. Further letters were addressed to all the members of tho Cabinet, protesting a»ainst£tliis. However, the executive's protest has evidently been'"of service, as the'conditions for tho proposed scholarships have heen referred back for reconsideration, the Minister of Education's reply indicating, that so far no definite decision had heen arrived at. "Tho New Zealand Catholic Field Service Fund has been duly registered -under the War Funds Act, and a monthly statement of funds received and disbursed is submitted to the Government. It is a matter for congratulation that [lie sum of over -SIOOO has been sulj,scribed to the fund. "The work undertaken by the Westminster Federation at the instance of tho New Zealand Federation, in respect to the distribution of goods and moneycontributed by the people of New Zealand for the relief of distress eausi-d solely by the war. continues to bo carried oil through the special subcommittee. "By direction of tho council the Minister of Justice was communicated with, and advised of the resolution adohted by the council in respect to the publication of details as to sexual offences, and the liunishment of such offences against children. Tho renly staled that the recommendations of the council would receive the consideration of tho Government."