CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 12 June 1913, Page 35

CATHOLIC FEDERATION

WELLINGTON DIOCESAN COUNCIL, (From our own correspondent.) The first meeting of the Wellington Diocesan Council of the New Zealand Catholic Federation was held at St. Patrick’s Hall on Tuesday, June 3. His Grace Archbishop Redwood, S.M., and his Grace the Coad-jutor-Archbishop, Yen. Archdeacon D-evoy, Very Rev. Deans Regnault (Provincial), Holley (Wanganui), Very Rev. Father Keogh (Hastings), Rev. Fathers Harnett (Masterton), Daly (Upper Hutt), Bowe (Carterton), De Lach (Otaki), J. Goggan, J. Herring, Hurley, Barra (Wellington) were present, and also the following delegates; Messrs. Bowler and Jans (Stratford), J. Walsh (Eltham), T. White (Kaponga), H. McKeown and H. F. O’Leary (St. Mary’s, Wellington), E. R. Daniel (Hastings), Devine, Breen, and Kennedy (Palmerston North), Miss Gaynor and Mr. Leriihan (Petone), Messrs. P. J. Hennessey (Foxton), J. E. Ward and J. L. Ley don (Westport), J. Comeskey (Upper Hutt), O’Connor (Masterton), T. Hodgins (Pahiatua) Considme (Carterton), W. P. Patton, J. Power (Lower Hutt), M. J. Lynch (Otaki), T. J. McCosker and Logan (Wellington South), Ellis and Williams (St. Joseph’s, Wellington), Geo. Girling-Butcher and J W. Callaghan (Thorndon), Harker and Parker (Wairoa), Mr. and Mrs. T. P. Halpin (Napier), Mrs Roderick McDonald and Messrs. R. A.- McDonald

(Levin), E. J. L. Whiting (Wanganui), R. Pi Flanagan (New Plymouth), ‘ and 3. J: •L. Burke (Feilding). Mr. G. Girling-Butcher was. voted to the chair, and Mr. P. D. Hoskins acted as' secretaryl. 'for the meeting. ‘ ; ; '... ,' / . .'. . v " - Both his Grace Archbishop Redwood and .his Grace . the Coadjutor-Archbishop were given a. warm reception. The former was welcomed . on his - return : from Europe, and the latter congratulated on his elevation to the Coadjutor-Archbishopric of Wellington. . His Grace Archbishop Redwood eulogised. the great work of the Catholic Federation. He instanced the successful results in Germany, Australia, arid America through federation and the growth of Catholicity in those countries. He also compared those countries with France, where no such organisation existed, but he was glad to say that France was now organising, arid as a result would eventually show that by organisation Catholicity would once more gain the position it had prior, to the recent trouble, and would even become stronger than in the' past. , V His Grace Archbishop O’Shea also spoke, and m congratulated the Federation on the work already done by it, although it had existed for a short time only. He complimented the country districts on being so well represented, and on the, self-sacrifice they had made in devoting a day to discussing the interests of Federation. Minorities (he said) must organise, and it was a false saying that minorities must suffer. They, therefore, must show that minorities ; must have their, rights. At the present time we were laboring .under severalinjustices. , Therefore, in forming the Federation, they were defending their just rights.... In the matter of. education Catholics were contributing £140,000 per. annum to public education, not one penny of which , came back to them. This was a low estimate, besides, which Catholics had to support and . equip their own schools. There was also the unfair treatment meted out to them in the matter of State scholarships, and the threatened introduction of the Bible into the State schools, and it was in matters such as these hat the Federation must move.

The first subject discussed was the Bible-in-Schools movement, which brought forth some very interesting discussion, and several important motions were passed for the Dominion Executive to take action. Very Rev. Dean Holley, S.M., Wanganui, spoke on,, the next subject on the order paper, ‘Politics and the attitude of the Federation towards Parliamentary politics.’ He said that his branch considered that the circular issued by the Dominion Executive was altogether too drastic, and through the restrictions contained therein the services of good Catholics were lost to the cause of the Federation. Mr. J. W. Callaghan moved, and the Very Rev.;: Dean Holley seconded— ‘ That the Wellington Diocesan. Council disapproves of the circular on politics, issued. by the Dominion Executive, and that it be a recommendation to that body to withdraw it.’ This, was carried, as was also the following motion moved by the Very Rev. Father Keogh, S.M., Hastings, and seconded by Mr. J. Walsh, Eltham— ‘ That the Wellington Diocesan Council approves of -full freedom of action regarding politics be given parish councils in matters that touch our religion.’ The next subject was the attitude of the Federation towards municipal, Education Board, and schoolcommittee elections. This evoked an interesting discussion, and brought forth the following motions: C- ‘ That this Diocesan Council encourages its parish councils to secure the return of as many Catholics as possible, V or men favorably disposed towards us on school committees,’ moved by Mr. R. P. Flanaghan (New Ply-t mouth), and seconded by Mr. P. J. Hennessy (Foxton); ? That this Diocesan Council advises its parish ' councils v to take an active interest in municipal and Charitable i Aid Board elections, and endeavor to secure the return i of as many Catholics or fair-minded men as possible ’ ; was moved by Messrs Callaghan (Thorndon) and Flana- ' ghan (New Plymouth). Proportional representation ’^

was the next item on thejorder paper, when Mr. J. W. Callaghan briefly and lucidly outlined the features of the scheme. After some discussion, it was decided to ; ask some " gentlemen, who were conversant with the scheme, to lecture on it before members of the Federation in different parts of the archdiocese. The conference next discussed Immigration/ and the secretary, for the information of those present, read the correspondence between the -Dominion Executive and the Minister for Immigration on the question of granting a subsidy to Catholics through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. for housing Catholic immigrant girls, and with regard to giving facilities for that society to visit immigrant vessels on arrival at the different ports. The chairman outlined the intentions of the Dominion Executive to establish in the near future a labor and immigration bureau, where Catholics who required labor could notify the officers of vacant berths, and Catholics desiring employment could be provided with such. He also expressed the gratitude of the Federation to the Victorian Federation for the many acts of kindness and advice given. ■■ ■' After some discussion, the conference discussed the

next item, ‘ Organisation,’ in which the fee charged for membership to children was thought by many to be too high, especially where the family was a large one. Several suggestions were made, and finally a resolution was moved by Mr. J. Comeskey (Upper Hutt), and seconded by the Ven. Archdeacon Devoy, that it be a recommendation to the Dominion Executive after the expiration of the first twelve months to make the charge for children sixpence instead of one shilling per annum. • '

Various members laid stress on the importance of having enrolled -within the ranks of the Federation every Catholic.man, ■woman, and child in the Dominion, and the necessity for a house to house canvass being made through each parish for this purpose. The constitution and rules were the next item for

discussion. Mr. F. P. Halpin (Napier) moved a remit by his branch that the election of parish committees be made by the parishioners instead of by parish priests. After discussion the motion was thrown out, only the mover and the seconder voting for it.

• Mr. Casey thought that the Dominion Executive required strengthening, but as rule 13, clause C, provided for this no further action was taken.

Under the heading of * Finance,’ the question of paying delegates’ -expenses to the Diocesan Council was discussed, and it was found that neither the Diocesan Council nor the Dominion Executive were in

a position to defray this expense. Very Rev. Father Keogh (Hastings) and Mr. J. Walsh (Eltham) moved that permission be given to parish councils to pay out of their* funds (of 2d per member) the expenses of delegates. If unable to do so to send delegates willing and able to come at their own expense. Mr. Considine (Martinborough) thought that those Who could afford to pay more than Is per annum to the Federation should do so. It was a cause which

required assistance, and he announced that he would make a donation of £5 to the funds. / ! '

The delegates from Wanganui and Palmerston North brought forward- remits from their respective branches, requesting that a marquee be erected at each military camp for Catholic Territorials. It was pointed out,' however, that the Defence Department does not grant marquees to religious denominations. It, 'therefore, would be necessary to purchase one. Which would cost nearly £IOO. As tins was beyond the resources of the Federation, the matter was allowed to stand over in the meantime.

The chairman ((Mr. Girling-Butcher) brought Up the subject of scholarships, and moved ‘ That it be a remit from the Diocesan Council to the Dominion Executive that the Executive take legal advice re education scholarships, and that the matter be ventilated in the law courts.’ This was carried unanimously. The chairman also moved that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded the Catholic Club for the use of St. Patrick’s Hall, and he also moved a hearty vote of thanks to his Grace the Archbishop and his Grace the Archbishop for their presence with them the whole of that day (from 10 in the morning until 10 in the evening), and for the deep interest they had displayed in the work of the Federation. . - His Grace the Archbishop and his Grace . the Coadjutor-Archbishop thanked the conference for the vote so enthusiastically carried, and said that it was quite a pleasure for them to be amongst them and listen to the interesting discussions on the various works of the Federation!

The chairman and secretary were accorded a vote of -thanks by acclamation on the motion of Mr. Considine, Carterton.

The election of officers of the Diocesan Council resulted as follows: —President, Mr. George GirlingButcher ; vice-presidents, Very Rev. Father Keogh and Mr. J. W. Callaghan; secretary, Mr. R. IT. Williams; treasurer, Mr. B. Ellis; delegates to the Dominion Executive, Mr, Girling-Butcher, Very Rev. Dean Holley, and Mr. J. W. Callaghan. The Wellington Diocesan Council has now thirtytwo branches, and an approximate membership of from 6000 to 7000 members.