CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 23 August 1917, Page 37

CATHOLIC FEDERATION

DOMINION COUNCIL, WELLINGTON. At the annual meeting of the Dominion Council of the New Zealand Catholic Federation, held in St. Patrick’s Hall, Wellington, on August 22, the following report was to be presented : Personnel. —The personnel of the executive for the period consisted of the following; Mr. J. J. L. Burke (chairman), Rev. Father P. J. Smyth, S.M., Adm., Messrs. Hoskins (Dominion treasurer), Corry, McGowan, Halpin, Nolan, Sullivan, Reeves, Sievers, Walsh, and Girling-Butcher (secretary). Mr. Sullivan recently tendered his resignation, and no fresh nomination was received from the parish committee represented by him. The matters referred by the last meeting of the Dominion Council to the Dominion Executive were dealt with as follows; Federation Sunday. —The members of the Hierarchy were communicated with hereon, and in reply ■warmly commended the proposed action. At their conference held in Wellington in May last it was decided that the request of the Federation be acceded to, and accordingly the bishops requested every parish priest to set aside the first Sunday in July for the purpose of forwarding the Federation movement. The executive inserted a full-page advertisement in the N.Z. Tablet, directing attention to the special effort to be made. Papal Benediction. —Facsimile reproductions of the letters from his Eminence Cardinal Gasparri and his Excellency Archbishop Cerretti conveying the Apostolic Blessing on the work of the Federation and its members have been procured, and 10,000 copies distributed to diocesan secretaries for transmission to parish branches. Rules. —The new edition of the constitution and rules of the Federation has been printed and is now available. As arranged, copy of the letter from the Cardinal Secretary of State, conveying the benediction of his Holiness (with translation), was prefixed. Film Censorship. At the instance of the executive, a further conference was called of the representatives of local, social, and educational attended the previous meetings, to discuss the question of amending legislation. As a result a resolution was forwarded to the Minister, asking that the right of appeal against the decision of the censor be given to members of the general public (the film proprietors already having that privilege). It was also requested that legislation be introduced to enable local bodies to deal effectively with offensive advertisements and picture posters. In reply, the Minister refused the first request, and stated that sufficient power was already in the hands of municipal authorities to enable them to cope with the latter. The Hon. Mr. Russell then forwarded a circular letter to all such bodies, directing their attention to section 344 of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1908, and requesting their co-operation in coping with the display of the offensive matter abovementioned. Subsequently another conference was called to further consider the reply of the Minister. This meeting, however, lapsed. Later, the co-operation of the executive was requested by a committee set* up by certain religious and educational bodies in Dunedin. A deputation to the Minister took place, at which the executive’s representatives were the chairman and secretary, and as a result fresh regulations are to be laid down for the censorship of, films upon what is known as the “English” plan. Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, 1908.- —The question of the amendment of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, 1908, as desired by the Auckland Diocesan Council has been the subject of enquiry. As a result, the Crown Law Officer, has been instructed

to review the matter and report. The Attorney General states, however, that only war legislation is to be introduced this session. As to the particular point to which exception has been taken, viz., the custody of the children where the mother proves unfit to have possession of them —the law now provides that the custody of children during infancy rests with the father, even as against the mother, so that no amendment therein is necessary. Supply of Medical Comforts for Natives.—The question of the free supply of medical necessaries to the State schools in the Bay of Plenty, and the withholding of the same from the convent schools having the care of Maoris in the same district brought before the council at its last meeting by the Auckland Diocesan representatives, was the subject of action by the executive. As a result of the representations made, directions have been issued that the Sisters are to be placed on the same footing as the teachers of the State Native schools in this regard, and parcels of medical requisites have been issued to them by the Public Health Department. Thanks are due to the Hon. Dr. Pomare for his assistance in this matter. Kitchener Scholarships and War Bursaries.—The manner of arranging the conditions under which the scholarships for which , money was so generously donated by Colonel Heaton Rhodes last year shall be available, has not yet been decided upon by the Council of Education, to whom the question was referred. It is undei stood that a sub-committee has the matter in hand now. It has been found impossible to arrange for the scholarships to be taken out at the Royal Nayal College in Australia, as was originally intended. It is the intention of the Government to establish war bursaries for the benefit of the children of men who have served with the Expeditionary Forces. The Minister of Education announced that these bursaries would be awarded on the same terms as free places, ■which meant that Catholic registered high schools would not be eligible to receive such burses. The executive protested in the strongest terms, but no satisfactory conclusion has resulted. The matter has not yet been finally settled, and it is understood that the Council ot Education is considering tl\e matter. Conscription of the Clergy and Religious.— direction of the Dominion Council to observe vigilance, and loyalty to the Hierarchy in the matter & of the conscription of the clergy has been zealously carried out. the question of what action, if any, should be taken by the executive in this most important matter was debated at length, and eventually it was decided that the matter should be placed before the Archbishop, with an offer of vigorous service by all branches of the federation should his Grace so desire. As, however, the Hierarchy had arranged in council such steps as were necessary his Grace preferred that the executive should defer taking action until its services were called upon It need hardly be said that the Federation members as a body will instantly respond to any call that may be made upon them. GENERAL. Archbishop Cerretti.—lt is with very sincere regret that the executive has to chronicle the departure from Australasia of his Excellency Archbishop Cerretti Apostolic Delegate. His Excellency has shown himself to be a sincere and sympathetic friend of Catholic rederation, and while with us manifested the greatest interest in the movement. Your executive, on behalf of the N.Z. Catholic Federation, wrote to his Excellency, expressing sorrow at his departure, and congratulations on the high office to which it has pleased the Holy Father to call him. Westminster Catholic Federation.— Your executive continues to keep in close touch with the Catholic Federation of Westminster. During the period under review a most comprehensive report of the work undertaken in the distribution of money and goods contributed by the people of New- Zealand for the relief of distress caused by the war to the poor of Great Britain

and Belgium has been received. The report shows the splendid work accomplished by the special committee set up by the Westminster Council. Ah offer has also been made by the hon. lay secretary, Mr. W. P. Mara, to assist New Zealand soldiers in England by receiving correspondence, and despatching the same - as required. Mr. Mara’s offer has been made as widely known as possible through the diocesan secretaries, camp chaplains, and the columns of the N.Z. Tablet. The question of co-operating with the newly-formed Press Bureau at Westminster will be brought before your council. Copies of the Catholic Federationist , the organ of the Salford (England) Diocesan Federation, have been received, and are gratefully acknowledged. ..v Australia. —Cordial relations continue to exist between .the N.Z.C.F. and the Australian Federations. Publications, etc., are exchanged, and recently the ■y N.S.W. Federation has been supplied with a quantity % of information in regard to the Acts and Regulations in vogue fn connection with hospital control in New Zealand. This was asked for in view of proposed legislation in that State, and a recent letter of thanks shows that it was highly appreciated. Military Affairs and Field Service Fund.—The camps: The institutes at the camps—Trentham and Featherston—are now under the control of the Hierarchy, but the executive has taken an active interest in the work done by the chaplains. The Trentham hall has recently been lined and renovated, and heating stoves installed, at a cost of about £270, borne by the Field Service Fund. The sum of Xl5O from the money subscribed in (he Christchurch diocese was specially asked to be expended on this work. This amount was augmented by £l2O as stated. At the request of the Wellington Diocesan Council and of Timaru a grant of £55 was made for repairs and comforts for Feathcrston hall. Ten pounds was given to the camp entertainment fund. It is probable that the question of erecting a small hall at the now permanent camp at Tauherinikau will have to be considered. The other religious bodies have already comfortable quarters for their adherents. H.M. Transports. —Each transport leaving with a Reinforcement has been supplied with a parcel of rosaries, medals, and hymn-cards for the use of the men on board. In the case of each chaplain leaving with a Reinforcement, £lO has been given for use on the men under his charge, and where required a grant has also been made for a field altar. Chaplains leaving with hospital ships each receive a grant of £SO. In response to the request of the late Chaplain-Major McMenamin, the sum of £3OO was cabled in May last to the account of the N.Z. chaplains in England, and a letter expressing heartfelt thanks was received from Father McMenamin. The executive desires to express its deep sorrow at the loss of this brave soldier and good priest. The executive also desires to place on record its very high appreciation of the splendid services rendered to our soldiers by the Catholic chaplains in the field, hospitals, and camps. The welfare of the men in Egypt has not been overlooked, and a grant has been forwarded to the N.Z. chaplain there, the Rev. Father Alex. McDonald. Roll of Honor.—Efforts have been made from time to time to obtain a complete list of the Catholic men with the Expeditionary Force without avail. The Defence Department is unable to allow the records to bo searched by the Federation officers until the close of the war, and when it is considered that the files of over a hundred thousand men would need to be handled the magnitude of the task is realised. Your executive now directs attention to a remit which is designed to solve the problem, and trusts that favorable consideration may be accorded the suggestions therein contained. The executive, and every member of the Federation, join in offering to the bereaved parents of those officers and men who have fallen in action their deepest sympathy and condolence. Organisation.— direct organising work has been done from head office during the past term, but diocesan councils have been informed that in the event of

their members being unable to visit and organise the various parishes the services of the Dominion organiser will be placed at their disposal : on application. Your executive would like to stress the fact that the organisation of' branches does not end with the collection of subscriptions, however numerous, for the year, and that the country branches should constantly be made acquainted with the various activities carried on by the Federation. ■ Medical Inspection. —ln reply to a question in the louse the Hon. Munster of Education recently stated that it was his desire and intention to see that every ■child in the Dominion shall have the benefit of medical inspection. As this is a matter for which the Federation has striven for some time past, it is to be hoped that the Minister’s statement will be carried out in its entirety, so that our, children will have the same opportunity of medical inspection as the more favored children in the State schools. Swimming Capitation.— New regulations have been gazetted whereby Catholic schools are placed on the same footing in the matter of swimming classes as in cookery and woodwork classes, and can earn capitation therefor. his is a step in the right direction, and will, we hope, be availed of by many of our schools. Women’s Hostels.-— Arrangements have been made with the Railway Department whereby the various Catholic hostels for women may be advertised at the principal railway stations in order to apprise Catholic women travelling of safe places to stay while on their journey. Your executive desires to place on record its deep appreciation of the good work being done for Catholic women and girls compelled to live away from home and those travelling by the four excellent hostels now open. Police Court Charge Sheets. —The question of the alteration in police court charge sheets which will eliminate the columns stating the alleged religious denomination of persons charged with offences, has been the subject of much correspondence with the Government. As a result, enquiry has been instituted as to the practice in vogue in Australia and .the United Kingdom in this regard, and on receipt of replies a decision will be arrived at by the Minister of Internal Affairs. Ihe inaccuracy of these returns is generally recognised by the authorities, and your executive trusts that the amendment in question will be made. Conclusion. — ln conclusion your executive tenders its heartiest thanks to the officials, members, and executives of the diocesan councils for their loyal and wholehearted efforts in the cause of Federation during the past term. he largely increased membership at the end of the financial year bears testimony to the excellent work carried out in the various dioceses. The executive trusts that ere long each of the diocesan councils may be able to show the happy and satisfactory result of having a large and prosperous branch in every parish under its jurisdiction.