HIBERNIAN AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 174, 28 July 1876, Page 12

HIBERNIAN AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY.

•MTo the Editor of the Tablet. Sir, — Now that the most important of the half-yearly business of the above Society has drawn to a close, there are still some very important matters the members of the New Zealand Branches must not lose sight of, viz., representation at the Annual Meeting next February, and the keeping of their funeral funds in the colony, then the formation of Boards of Management, as also many other important matters connected with the management of the Society. Having had the honor of representing New Zealand in Melbourne, as a member of the Directory, I may from time to time, with your kind permission, give some useful information, if I see that the members take an active part in their own interests. lam glad to see the Dunedin Branch is taking an active part in bringing the subjects above alluded to prominently before the members of their Branch. I must confess, without wishing to give offence to other Branches, that they have always taken a leading part in the business of the Society. Bro. Cantwell, their Secretary, takes every opportunity to forward the interest of the Society in New Zealand. In reference to the first subject, that of representation, I may at once inform the members of branches under the E.F., as all the New Zealand branches are, that they have no standing at th« Annual Meeting ; they have "been represented up to the last meeting by custom or courtesy. There is no rule that gives them power to be represented as Branches of the E.D. The second is more j important, that of keeping the funeral fund in the colony. I have it on the best authority that, by the New Zealand Friendly Societies' Act, it must be kept in the colony, and the trustees are responsible for every shilling that leaves it; there is not a rule in the laws that I can find that obliges them to forward it to Melbourne. I will try and suggest a remedy for this the greatest of all grievances ; I would recommend that two Boards ot Management be formed in New Zealand (not District Boards as they do not work well, as I can prove, but time or space will not permit it here), with three Trustees and a paid Secretary to each. If this be carried out, it will entitle New Zealand to representation at the Annual Meeting within the meaning of the rules; it will entitle them to the interest arising from their own funeral fund by keeping it at home; it will entitle them to a reduction in the quarterage, from 4d. to Id. per member to the E.D. I may state that all the Branches in New Zealand are entitled to a drawback of threepence per man for quarterage for the last 12 months. (See last Annual Meeting Report.) I could say a great deal more on this subject, but will not trespass on your valuable space at present, I will wait to see what action, if any, maybe taken. As I have taken an active part in the business of the Society both here and in Victoria for the last seven years, as I had the honor of representing New Zealand in the E.D. at four Annual Meetings, I hope it will not be considered presumptuous on my part to offer a few suggestions on the manage-

ment of the Society. If some action be not taken at once (and I must say it cannot be taken too soon, as things are in a critical state in Melbourne), I will quietly retire from a profitless occupation, namely, taking an active part in the business of the H.A.C.B.S. Many thanks for allowing me to trespass so much on your valuable space. — I remain, &c, Napier, July 12, 1876. P. G.