HIBERNIAN AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 176, 11 August 1876, Page 12

HIBERNIAN AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY.

To the Editor of the New Zealand Tablet.

Sir, — Although much has been written concerning the late annual meeting of the above Society held in Melbourne last February, it has not been without good, results, and I think the resolution passed by the Dunedin branch at its last meeting an expression of opinion that will be seconded by a large majority jot tho Lodges in this Colony. The illegality of the late A.M. has been very fullyjliscussed through your columns, therefore, I think it ■would be oufcof place were I to say much about it at present. It is now proved conclusively that the Executive Directory has not the conndenceof the majority of its branches, and, even if it had, I am doubtful if they could be managed as successfully as they have been in the past. It is very remarkable that not one of the pioneers of the Society occupies a seat on the Directory, especially when they proffered their gratuitous services to the Society, and were rejected, not by the Society, but by a portion of it known as theMelbourne district, who, by an unfair advantage in opposition to our laws and the protest of our representatives, carried all their points at the annual meeting. This important fact speaks for itself, and should not be lost sight of. Our duty now is, to take immediate action for our own protection. With this object in view, I have for months passed advocated a board of management for the Otago and Canterbury branches, thereby consolidating their interests, and extending the ; Society to the several centres of population in the respective Provinces. I notice that your numerous correspondents advocate District Boards for this Colony, but I ap afraid in forming their opinions they have overlooked the principal objection, vizi, that of expense. District Boards may 1 work well in* Victoria where railway communication is established throughout the Colony, andthe-

expense of travelling merely nominal, but here in New Zealand travelling is a very different matter. Another objection is the laws^ They are too voluminous, and savour much of "Red Tapeism." The constitution of a board of management would be assimilated to that of a District Board possessing the same power, minus the expensive machinery. The officers of the Board would be elected annually, whose duties would be to receive the funeral quarterage, supply regalia and goods, open new branches, prepare annual returns showing the numerical and financial condition of the branches, and such othei business as would be decided upon by the branches collectively from time to time. Of course, ib would be impossible to hold meetings oftener than once in the year, owin^to the great expense it would involve. As a guarantee that notMjf would be passed at the annual meeting of the Board withoufp^y consideration, a bye-law would be introduced, making it compulsory for a business order paper to be circulated amongst the Branches at least one month previous to the meeting ; thereby giving the Branches an opportunity of discussing, if they thought fit the business to be transacted. I may here state, that lam in favor of the proposal of my worthy and esteemed friend, the secretary of the Lawrence Branch (Mr. J. J. Woods) to establish an Executive Council in Melbourne, the officers to be elected annually by the whole Society. This would be part of the business to be transacted at our local district meetings. The cost of a board of management for the Otago and Canterbury Branches would be about .£96 per annum. This amount includes the probable expenses of deputies to the district annual meetings. According to our present laws, it is the duty of Branches sending deputies to defray their own expenses; this is manifestly unfair — for instance if a branch at a distance of 150 miles from the seat of government wished to be represented it would cost the Branch about i>l0 — whereas the Branches in and around the seat of government would be represented gratis owing to the annual meeting being held in their midst. In order that every Branch should bear its proportionate share of the expenses of the Board and the annual meeting, I would propose that the quarterage to the Incidental Fund be at the rate of Is. 3d. per member per quarter. Branches would then be alive to their interests, and take care they were represented as they would be paying for the privilege, although it would be hardly perceptible, being only Bd. more than what they have been paying to the Executive Directory until lately. It may be interesting to know that the amount of quarterage paid to the Incidental Fund of the Executive Directory last year from the New Zealand Branches alone, amounted to close upon £145. For which they have received no return. Out of the above amount the Otago and Canterbury Branches combined have contributed about £4-1. Why should they be compelled to contribute this money, when for a little more than double the amount they can have a complete system of local self-government, by which their interests would be amalgamated and consolidated, their Funeral Fund at their OAvn disposal, and retained in the Colony, and the Society extended. In conclusion I have to express the hope that, our Christchurch brethren will follow the example of the Dunedin Branch, and that the outcome of their united efforts will be a system of government that will be found acceptable to all sections of the Society in New Zealand, is the earnest wish of — yours, &c, August 2, 1876, John Cantwell.