CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 31 July 1913, Page 35

CATHOLIC FEDERATION

MEETING OF THE DOMINION COUNCIL (By telegraph, from our Wellington correspondent .) Wellington, July 28. The first meeting of the Dominion Executive commenced at 2 p.m. on Sunday. His Grace Archbishop O'Shea, Very Rev. Dean Regnauit, S.M. (Provincial), Rev. Father Coffey, Adm. (Dunedin), Rev. Fathers Edge (Auckland) and Barra were present, also the following lay delegates —Messrs. I>. McLaughlin and E. R. Casey (Auckland), J. R. Hayward (Christchurch), C. A. Shiel and D. L. Poppelwell (Dunedin), J. W. Callaghan and G. Girling-Butcher (Wellington), and the members of the provisional Executive. Mr. Girling-Butcher, who was voted to the chair, welcomed the delegates. Apologies were received from his Grace Archbishop Redwood, Very Rev. Deans Plolley and Hyland, and Very Rev. Chancellor Price. The first business was the reading of the report of the provisional Executive and the presentation of the balance sheet. The report showed that there are 35 branches in the Wellington archdiocese, with a membership of 7000, 22 branches in Auckland with a membership of 4000. The Christchurch and Dunedin figures were not available, but with 16 branches in Christchurch, and 12 branches in Dunedin, the membership of these two dioceses should be approximately 5600, making a Dominion total of 16,600. The report gave particulars of the work of the provisional Executive in connection with immigration. Correspondence was still going on in connection with the application of the Executive for a subsidy similar to that granted by the Government to the Girls’ Society and the Y.W.C.A. The Government granted a concession to Catholic representatives to visit immigrant ships by the Health Officer’s tender, and will notify representatives selected of the time of arrival of each vessel, and the time the launch leaves the wharf. In connection with education, the question of scholarships and the . attitude of certain boards towards Catholic secondary schools was met by a special resolution being published. Another matter recommended for future action was the supply of the school Journal and other requisites by the Education Department free to Catholic schools. At present Catholics have to pay for these, whereas they are supplied free to State schools. In connection with the Bible-in-Schools movement the provisional Executive has had a great deal of work to cope with, especially in regard to the petitions. A plan of action for the

future is recommended. Matters of other Catholic interests were mentioned and recommended for discussion. His Grace Archbishop O’Shea briefly addressed the delegates. It had been his one great desire (he said) to see such a meeting where matters affecting the Catholics of New Zealand could be discussed. There were many important matters mentioned in the report and order paper. He wished the Federation God’s blessing. The principal business discussed was the constitution. Many important amendments were made, the principal being the composition of a new body to be known as the Dominion Council, to take the place of the Dominion Executive. The Dominion Council would consist of the Archbishop and Bishops with the elected delegates, three from each diocese. The Dominion Executive would be composed of members of the Dominion Council resident in Wellington, with seven other Wellington members. It would act for the Dominion Council, when that body was not in session, in all matters except the alteration of the constitution. Diocesan councils were reconstituted, and will now consist of the bishop and parish priests, and two lay representatives from each parish committee. The Dominion Council will meet half-yearly in Wellington, in February and August. Mr. G. Girling-Butcher (Wellington) was elected president, Messrs B. McLaughlin (Auckland), J. R. Hayward (Christchurch), and D. L. Poppelwell (Otago) vice-presidents, Rev. Father Hurley (Wellington) treasurer. _ The appointment of a paid secretary was left to the Dominion Executive. The election of members of the Dominion Executive resulted as follows:Messrs. T. J. McCosker, P. D. Hoskins, A. H. Casey, F. K. Reeves, D. S. Columb, J. E. Ward, and M. O’Kane. It was decided to request the diocesan councils to enlist the aid of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Catholic Immigration Sub-committee in caring for Catholic immigrants. It was decided that no member of the Federation, or any other person whatsoever, shall have any authority to bind the Federation, or any body thereunder, without direct authority in writing from the Federation, or such body respectively; nor shall the Federation, or any body thereunder, be in any way responsible for any act, matter, or thing, purporting to be done on its behalf, unless such authority shall have previously been given in writing ; no body under the Federation shall have any power to act on behalf of or bind the Federation, or any other body, unless specially authorised in writing so to do by the Dominion Council, or Executive, or such lesser body respectively. The subscription for life-members was fixed at three guineas ; for members, over sixteen years of age, at one shilling per annum; and for those under sixteen years at sixpence yearly, such reduced rate for children not to come into force until next year. The rule dealing with politics explained that the Federation is not' a political party organisation, and does not seek to touch politics except where politics touch religion, or where the civil rights and liberties of Catholics are affected. Six representatives of the general body of parishioners to join the parish committee to be in future elected at a meeting called for the purpose, instead of being nominated by the parish priest. The annual meeting of the members in each parish and local district to-be held in the first week in June. The diocesan councils’ annual meeting is to be held in the first week in July, and the Dominion Council’s annual meeting in August. It was recommended to the diocesan councils to set up a catholic literature committee to . submit lists of books suitable for public libraries, and efforts should be made through the parish committees to .requisition for such books at all local public libraries, also to protest against the circulation through libraries of unsuitable and objectionable literature. The Dominion Council recommended the Executive to suitably recognise the valuable services of Mr. P. D. Hoskins as provisional secretary. It also carried a resolution re-

cording its appreciation of the excellent work which was done by the provisional Executive. t A hearty vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting. The Dominion Council, which had been in session for eleven hours altogether, concluded on Monday evening. [A full report of the proceedings will appear in our next issue.— Ed. N.Z.T.] s