HIBERNIAN LODGE

Auckland Star, Issue 111, 13 May 1935, Page 7

HIBERNIAN LODGE

UNITY IN N.Z. NEEDED

BRISBANE, May 12.

At the triennial confcrence of the National Directory of officers and interState deputies of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society, it was decided to recommend to the National Directory that recognition of the New Zealand northern district be withheld, pending the production of the approbation of the New Zealand hierarchy.

It was also decidcd that the National Directory should take all possible measures to ensure the unity of the society in New Zealand. The conference recommended the deputies to welcome the offer of the New Zealand district to assist the New Zealand northern district in obtaining the bishops' approval.

A statement on the decision of the conference and its effect was given to-day by Mr. 11. 11. Duggan, president of the northern district from 1933-35. He sail:

"The attitude of the northern district is that it insists on unconditional recognition from the National Directory, but it is only too happy to co-operate with the National Directory and the New Zealand district for ecclesiastical approbation. The northern district strongly maintains its power to exist and to operate within the Australasian society as a distinct district."

The northern district broke away from the New Zealand body and formed its own organisation on January 1, 1933, under the rules. A ruling of the Supreme Court of New Zealand in September, 1934, determined that the powers of che National Directory are not sufficient either to prevent secession or to refuse affiliation. Mr. Duggan intimated that the cabled decision from Brisbane will have no actual effect on the situation in the Dominion. "The well-being of the society in New Zealand is certainly not lr. jeopardy," he said. "Out of courtesy, the northern district would like the approbation of the hierarchy. The New Zealand society has expressed its attitude by the formation of fresh branches of its own in Auckland."

Information received by private cable in Auckland reveals the fact that the question of recognition of the northern district was relegated to a committee of four in Brisbane, and that this committee recommended the course which the conference lias now adopted—that the approbation of the hierarchy be resought, with the National Directory and the New Zealand district bilging.