CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8339, 28 January 1913, Page 11

CATHOLIC FEDERATION

NEW ZEALAND CONSTITUTION. Representatives of tho various Wellington parishes met on Sunday afternoon ill Boulcott street to receive the draft constitution and rules of the proposed Catholic Federation of Now Zealand.

Tho Very Rev. Dean O’Shea, who presided, said that in .Christchurch, Dunedin, and Auckland tho movement was being taken up enthusiastically by tho clergy and laity. In Auckland tho parish councils had already been formed. At Christchurch a meeting was being held that day to establish tho federation, and in Dunedin, a meeting had already been held for that purpose. Tho object of tho meeting was to adopt a constitution, and the next step would bo to elect parish committees, after which the Diocesan Council would be appointed. Tho matter would bo fully considered at tho “ retreat ” of the Catholic clergy, which M being held this week, and the parish priests would bo exhorted to take up tho movement as soon as they went, back to their respective parishes. It had been practically agreed by tho bishops of the four dioceses that as soon as the Diocesan Councils wero established a central council would bo elected to act as a controlling authority for tho whole of tho Dominion.

Tho meeting approved of the draft constitution and rules, with some amendments, and tho following provisional Dominion Council was elected: Very Rev. Dean O’Shea (ex officio), Messrs J. W. Callaghan, P. D. Hoskins. M. O’Kane, R. P. Flanagan, A. H. Casey, B. Ellis, Girling-Butcher, T. McCosker, and J. J. L. Burke. Representatives from Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin have yet to be appointed.

BRANCH IN CANTERBURY. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, January 27

A very largo and most enthusiastic meeting was held yesterday afternoon to inaugurate a branch of tho Catholic Federation. Bishop Grimes presided, and briefly addressed the assemblage, pointing out the objects of tho organisation, which was first established in Melbourne, and had spread throughout Victoria, tho dioceso of Auckland and tho arch-diocese of Wellington, and would now include tho diocese ot Christchurch. MOVEMENT IN AUSTRALIA. Archbishop Kelly, speaking at tho laying of the foundation-stone of the now building of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society in Sydney, referred to Catholic federation. Ho said they dare not federate for political purposes. That would bo more than a profanation. Politics was a kind of game, a rough and tumble kind of thing, and where they had good reliable politicians it was a great blessing. In society they must work together. They required to observe tho rights of their neighbours, and to live in peace with them. Tho Catholic federation .could do much in maintaining people in society. The Catholics asked no privilege in Australia. Tho Catholic societies of Australia ought to federate, and the work be organised among themselves. They should set out and appeal for membership, and tho membership of each parish should organise itself and send representatives to a central meeting for the dioceso. Tho diocese would send representatives to the mooting of the nation, and on occasions tho nation would send representatives to a meeting of the Catholic world. Nobody would have reason to dread the Catholic federation. It would bo for every good cause; for tho propagation of sound principles and correct statements. There would bo certain centres in which this federation would work for the improvement of youth, for the help of tho unemployed, even for correspondence solving legal difficulties, and so forth, and in spreading sound literature to the people by moans of pamphlets of all sizes. They would also hold public meetings and lectures. He would bo happy to Hess I’m Catholic. federation in tho at ehdiocose of Sydney.