FEDERATED CATHOLIC CLUBS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 15, 15 April 1909, Page 583

FEDERATED CATHOLIC CLUBS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

(From our Wellington correspondent.) The eighth annual Conference of the Federated Cath- ' olic Clubs of New Zealand was opened in the St. Patrick's Hall, Boulcott street, at 10 o'clock on Easter Saturday. The president of the Federation, Mr. A. H. Casey, occupied the chair, and there were present his Grace Archbishop Redwood, the Very Rev. Father O'Shea, S.M., V.G., and Rev. Father Yenning, S.M. Tbe representation was "as follows: — Federal Executive, Messrs. A. H. Casey, P. J. McGovern, and E. J. Leydon; Ashburton, Mr. C. Gamble; Auckland, Messrs. A. Cullen and J. Shanaghan; Blenheim, Mr. E. Higgins; Christchurch, Messrs. P. McNamaraand F. Hickmott; Dunedin, Messrs. G. Dee and S. J". Moran; Dunedin South, not represented; G-reymouth, Messrs. E. Casey and P. J. Smyth; Hastings, Messrs. J. McQuirk and D. Dowling; Hokitika, Mr. J. J. Burke; Invercargill, Messrs. M. O'Kane and D. Mxilvey; Napier, Mr. F: McDonald; New Plymouth, Messrs. J. J. Sullivan and T. Boyce; Oamaru, Mr. G. J. Fama; Onehunga, not represented; Palmerston North, Messrs. W. Scanlon and J. J. Callaghan; Petone, Messrs. T. Fitzgerald and O. O'Hare; Temuka, Mr. L. T. Reichel; Wanganui, Mr. J. R. Hunt; Wellington, Messrs. J. McGowan and J. W. Callaghan; Wellington South, Messrs. D. Moriarty and E. Foote. Onr correspondent's report of the proceedings not having come to hand we take the following report from the Dominion : — His Grace Archbishop Redwood extended a very cordial welcome to the delegates, and referred to the great work which was being done by the Catholic clubs throughout the Dominion. He urged upon the members the desirability of being loyal to their club, and taking every advantage of its benefits, as by doing so they would be truU sons of the Church and worthy citizens of the Dominion. The Very Rev. Father O'Shea, president of the Wellington Catholic Club, also extended a welcome, and expressed his pleasure at seeing such a representative attendance. The Rev. Father Yenning, spiritual director, also extended a welcome to members. Two newly-formed clubs, Timaru and St. Canice's (Westport), were admitted to the Federation. Alterations and additions to rules were made as follow: The power of nominating to the annual conference the officers for the ensuing year was vested in a joint committee of five executive officers from all federated Catholic clubs within a radius of ten "miles of Wellington. The representation of clubs at the conference was fixed at one delegate for less than fifty members, and two for more than fifty. A new rule was passed providing that each affiliated club should arrange for the celebration on the first Sunday in September of each year of a Mass for the repose of souls of deceased members. Provision was. made for delegates from any established' club not admitted to the federation, and from any town where it is proposed to establish a club, to attend the annual conference. Power was given to the executive to appoint an official representative on the executive of each chib, avid power was also given to any accredited member of an affiliated club when visiting Wellington to attend the meetings and take part in the discussions of the federation executive. A notice of motion that the annual conference be hold alternately at Wellington and Christchurch, and an amendment that it be restricted to the fottr centres,' provoked a lengthy discussion, but they were eventually defeated. The conference reserved to itself the right to fix the locale of the gatherings, and Greymouth was" selected as the place for the next. A paper on ' The True Ideals of Gatholic Clubs ' was read by Mr. L. T. Reichel. The election of officers resulted as, follows: — Presidentgeneral, his Grace Archbishop Redwood; president, Mr. A. H. Casey; vice-president, Mr. H. McKeowen; hon. secretary, Mr. S. J. Moran ; hon. treasurer, Mr. J. McGowan ; committemen, Messrs. P. J. McGovern, L. T. Reichel, and D . Moriarty. Votes of thanks to the outgoing officers, to Messrs. J. McCnsker, and J. R. Hunt, and the president (Mr. A. H. Casey) brought the conference to a close.