N.Z. CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 24 July 1919, Page 27

N.Z. CATHOLIC FEDERATION

♦ . DUNEDIN DIOCESAN COUNCIL. The fifth annual meeting of the Dunedin. Diocesan Council of the Catholic Federation was held on Friday evening, July 18. Mr. D. L. Poppelwell, vice-presi-dent, presided in the absence, through indisposition, of Veiy Rev. Father Coffey (president). The following delegates representing parish committees were present ; St. Josephs Cathedral (Dunedin), Mr. E. Sandys ; St. Patrick’s (South Dunedin), Father Delany ; Gore, Very Rev. P. O’Donnell, Mr. D. L. Poppelwell; Mosgiel, Mr. J. Wads: Winton, Father Kaveney (proxy); Invercargill, Mr. T. J. Hussey (proxy) ; Queenstown, Mrs, J. Hally_ (proxy). Mr. J. Hally (treasurer) and Miss I red a Kennedy (secretary) of the Diocesan Council were also present. A comprehensive report on the workings and finances of the Federation, under the jurisdiction of the Diocesan Council of Dunedin, was submitted, and incidentally touched -upon subjects of interest such as Christian influence, Catholic patriotism. and Catholic education. In moving the adoption of the report and statement of accounts, Mr. Poppelwell referred to the satisfactory position of the Federation as regards membership and finance. He congratulated the compiler of the report on the manner in which Catholic principles were asserted, and in this connection paid a warm tribute to the J .Z. Tablet, a journal we had good reason to be proud of for its manly, outspoken attitude on not alone Catholic affairs, but on those of general public interest. In seconding the adoption of the report, Very Rev. Father O’Donnell said that while congratulating the Federation on its past progress, he felt that something should be done to interest country people in Federation aims and objects. There was (he said) plenty of room for an increase in membership, and, desirable as it was to progress, some such action as he indicated should be adopted to arouse and sustain interest. The scholarship question received at-

tention during the discussion of general' business, the general impression being that the Federation scholarship conditions should be made uniform throughout the Dominion. Remits , from the Gore branch' were adopted providing for representatives of the Diocesan Council to visit and address during the year the people of country parishes on Federation matters. On the motion of the chairman it was decided to pay over' the amounts won in scholarships for last year, and also a bonus of £5 to the secretary. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to the retiring office-bearers. The following-office-bearers were appointed for the ensuing year; President, Very Rev. Father Coffey ; vice-presidents, Rev. C. Morkane and Mr. D. L. Poppelwell; secretary, Mr. E. , Sandys ; treasurer, Mr. T. J. Hussey : delegates to Dominion Council, Very Rev. Father Coffey, Messrs. D. L. Poppelwell and T. J. Hussey. It was decided that the Executive Committee shall consist of the executive officers.