CATHOLIC CLUBS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18844, 6 April 1931, Page 2

CATHOLIC CLUBS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. OPENING SESSION ON SATURDAY. Approximately forty delegates to the annual Conference of the Federated Catholic Clubs of New Zealand assembled in Timaru on Saturday, when the Conference was held in this town again after of period of 16 years. The Conference was fairly well representative of the South Island, memHnrp brin°' nres** r t far away ••■s Invercargill and Christchurch. No entries for the different competitions were received this year from the North Island. With the object of fostering good. fei-ov.anlp uliio-.ijct ations, the activities include both sporting and educational competitions, the ambition of each affiliated club being to win the Hayward Challenge Shield which is awarded to the team securing most- points in debate, religious questions, oratory, elocution, impromptu speaking, tennis, and billiards. Delegates Welcomed. On Saturday afternoon at St. Patrick's Hall the delegates were officially welcomed by the Rev. Dean Holley (parish priest) and the Mayor (Mr W. Angland). On behalf of the Timaru Catholic Club, Mr J. Roseveare, president, welcomed the visiting delegates, stating that he hoped that the 1931 Conference at Timaru would be long remembered by all who attended. He was sure that keen interest would be shown in the competitions, and said it was the wish of his Club that the visitors be showai that Timaru boys could run a tournament. (Applause.) Mr A. L. Curry, president of the Federation (Christchurch), expressed the appreciation of the executive at the large number of delegates present to witness the commencement of another battle of wit and muscle for the Federated Catholic Clubs’ Shield. It was 16 years, he said, sine the Conference was last held in Timaru and since then the shield had travelled from one end of New Zealand to the other. The Conference in Timaru would embrace a programme which had resulted from a good deal of developmental work by the executive in Dunedin. The proposed Conference activities had been subjected to lengthy reorganisation, and the 1931 session would mark the consummation of the Executive’s intentions. The large and representative gathering was a demonstration of the strength of the Catholic Club movement in New Zealand, and he was sure that all would agree that the movement was a very worthy one. Mr Currv expressed the Executive’s thanks t-o the Timaru Club for its enthusiastic co-operation. He asked delegates to fully appreciate the importance of the Conference, as on them rested its success. He again conveyed the Executive’s thanks to the Timaru Club, and expressed the hope that the 1931 Conference could be recorded in history as one of the most successful ever conducted.

The Very Rev. Dean Holley, extended a hearty welcome to delegates arriving at the festal season from the north and the south. It w r as sixteen years since the Conference had been held in Timaru, and the choice of venue by the executive showed that Timaru must be doing its share in the renascent Catholic Club movement.

"There are three ways in which we welcome you,” said the Dean. “(l)We welcome you in a spirit of hospitality on the part of the parish, and are glad of the opportunity to place our parish assets at the disposal of the delegates, for competition and for education purposes. < 2) In the name of good fellowship. This gathering mingles sport with the fruits of study, and brings men together in conference to discuss items of interest to the promotion of the Catholic Club movement. Let all these sessions be linked together with the golden thread of friendly intercourse. (3) We welcome you in the name of culture: A glance at the big programme shows that competitors have come here furnished with the fruits of reading and study, so that those who speak and those who listen must be the richer in mind for this conference. This will be the Catholic Clubs’ contribution to cultural wellbeing.” Dean Holley said he desired to welcome them also in the name of Catholic action. The single student or social worker could not accomplish much, but a group of men, organised together in their efforts towards a common objective, could work wonders. "This is the idea of Pope Pious XI. placed before the men of to-day the world over, so that not the least of the benefits of a gathering such as this will bo the quickening of a desire in the Catholic young men of New Zealand to give their united best to their beloved young country, and thenmuch prized old faith,” concluded Dean Holley. The Mayor of Timaru (Mr W. Angland), in according the visitors a civic welcome to the town, thanked the president and executive of the Timaru Club for the invitation to be present. It was with the greatest pleasure that he endorsed the sentiments of the Rev. Dean Holley, and he said he felt honoured at the privilege on such an Important occasion to extend to visiting members on -ehalf of the Council and citizens of the town, a hearty welcome, although , their stay would be short, he hoped it would be enjoyable. When the business of the Conference was over, he hoped that visiting members would take the opportunity of inspecting same of the beauty spots in and around Timaru, so that they would take back to their homes many pleasail 7, memorles the Conference and of their visit to Timaru. The Mayor referred to the great Y, the Conference to members of Catholic Clubs, as it afforded the men opportunity to meet together not only to debate and discuss matters of importance, but to cement the bonds of £ood fellowship. Mr Angland expressed the hope that the Conference would ne an unqualified success, and that the work accomplished would be to the advancement of the Catholic Club movement in New Zealand. The welcomes were acknowledged by Messrs J. Flood (Marlst Brothers’ Old Boys and Christchurch Catholic Club), w. Bryant (Ashburton Catholic Club), J. J. 'Marlowe jnr. (Dunedin Hibernian Society), Mr Miller (Invercargill), J. p. Ward (Dunedin Hibernian Social and Debating Club). J. Beard (Nortn East Valley Catholic Club), and J. Kerr (South Dunedin Hibernian Social Club). The Competitions. The different competitions, together with Conference business, which was taken in committee, were commenced on Saturday, with an oratorical contest. At 8 p.m. on Saturday, an elocution contest was held, this being followed by the first round of a debate, which will be concluded to-day. Yesterday morning, delegates, competitors, members of Catholic Clubs and affiliated bodies paraded at St. Patrick’s Hall, a muster of close on 300 marching to the Church to partake of Holy Communion. Billiards and tennis tournaments w r ere commenced in the morning and were concluded in the afternoon, the gathering being the guests of St. John’s Tennis Club at afternoon tea. At the service in the morning, Miss M. Martin played the voluntaries, and Miss Macdonald sang a solo. After evening devotions, the second round of the debate was commenced, the session concluding with an impromptu speech contest. The first competition was in oratory, there being six competitors, all of whom attained a high standard In what the Uev. Fattier Bucko, fei) ci

St. Bede’s College, who judged the competition, described as the most plastic of the arts. Father Burke declared the power of oratory to be of more value and more cultural than sculpture or writing. He considered that to be a true orator, competitors had to put forth all their powers. He was pleased that men’s clubs were paying such attention to oratory, for although man was, by Divine right, the head of the home, he had very often to talk to hold that position. Father Burke considered all the competitors had shown evidence of much preparation, and were very even, with the exception of the Christchurch representative (Mr A. L. Curry) whose pleasing voice was specially adaptable to the subject he had selected. Mr Curry gave one the impression of deep feeling and sincerity, and conveyed ideas other than those actually expressed. Mr Mowat w r as a good, clear speaker, but spoiled nis effort by too many pauses, while Mr L. Carroll, of South Dunedin, was also very fine, but he did not speak with ease, his voice seeming to be strained to too high a pitch. The result wasA. L. Curry (Christchurch) “Mother," 1. J. C. Mowat (Dunedin) “Columbus,” 2. L. E. Carroll (South Dunedin) "The anti-Christian nature of Bolshevism” 3. Also competed.—M. Cosgrove (Timaru) "Napoleon"; M. Miller (Invercargill) “Campion”; Prain (N.E. Valley, Dunedin) “Thomas Wolsey.” Elocution. The elocution contest on Saturday night, which was judged by Mr R. R. Wills, of Timaru, was of a very high standard, the judge being generous in his remarks concerning the individual performances. The result was:— W. S. Minehan (Timaru Catholic Club), 85 points 1. H. Shaw (Christchurch), 84 points 2. J. J. Marlowe jnr. (Dunedin H.A.C-.8.5.), 81 points 3. Also competed.—Messrs J. Ward (Dunedin Hibernian Society and Debating Club) “Home Sweet Home’”; J. Foley (Waimate Catholic Club), “Napoleon’s Tomb”: J. Beard (North East Valley Catholic Club), "Pitt’s Reply to Walpole”; M. Miller (Invercargill). "The Irish Brigade": L. Marlow (South Dunedin H.A.C.8.5.), “Napoleon’s Tomb.” Mr Minehan selected "The Guards Come Through,” and commenting on the winner's performance, the judge said that the competitor had a nice stage deportment. He had a good steady commencement, painted a nice picture, while his general interpretation was splendid. Of Mr Shaw, who gave "Napoleon’s Tomb,” Mr Wills said that he possessed a good stage deportment, and gave a very fine rendition of a difficult subject. "Wolsey’s Farewell to Cromwell,” the piece chosen by Mr J. J. Marlowe, who was awarded third place, was, according to Mr Wills, very well done. There was broken continuity in places, but it was a good performance with a fine selection. The Debate. “That Empire* Free Trade is of Benefit to New Zealand,” was the subject of the debate was commenced on Saturday, and continued last night. Mr A. E. Lawrence, the judge heard Christ church Marist Brothers’ Old Boys and Catholic Club (affirmative), South Dunedin Hibernian Social Club (negative) on Saturday. Last night the teams were North East Valley Catholic Men’s Social and Debating Club (affirmative), and Timaru Catholic Club (negative). Billiards. J. Lang (Timaru Catholic Club) is in a good position for three points in the billiards tournament, which was commenced yesterday. Lang has so far been unbeaten, and has to play J. Daly (North East Valley Catholic Club) in the final to-day. The Timaru man has to be beaten twice before he loses premier honours. G. Gibb (Dunedin H.A.C.8.5.) has been placed third. Eight players representing different Clubs were participants in the tournament, which was of a highly interesting nature. Tennis. Eight teams were represented by one player each in the tennis tournament, which was held yesterday afternoon on St. John’s Courts. The standard of play throughout the afternoon was very high, and public interest in the event was quite apparent. At the conclusion of the afternoon’s play, which consisted of a knock-out tournament, the following were the place getters. J. Mahoney (Christchurch Catholic Club), 1. P. Houlihan (Timaru Catholic Club) 2. J. DeUahunty (Dunedin H.A.C.8.5.) 3. The wanner was unbeaten throughout, Houlihan being defeated once, and the third man twice. Impromptu Speech. The impromptu speech contest, which was held last night, was most successful, the judge (Rev. Clyde Carr, M.P.), remarking that all the campetitors had performed very well. The competition resulted:—• J. Daly (North East Valley), 50 points 1. G. Furbey (Ashburton), 45 points 2. J. P. Ward (Dunedin) 44 points 3. Also competed.—A. J. Downing (H.A.C.8.5.), A. L. Curry (Christchurch), L. Carroll (Christchurch), and A. D. Mcßae (Timaru). The possible number of points obtainable was 60. The subject was “What is the Age at which one should marry?”

The judge, in announcing the result, gave a brief but informative criticism of each performer.