HIBERNIAN AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 177, 18 August 1876, Page 11

HIBERNIAN AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY.

To the Editor of the New Zealand Tablet. Dear Sir — You would much oblige me by inserting in your valuable paper the following few remarks in re District Boards or Boards of Management for New Zealand, which hare of late engaged the attention of prominent members ; and lam glad to see the Parent Branch of Otago is about to move in the matter ; but, if I understand right, the form of government to be adapted is new — namely. Boards of Management, and not as yet provided for in the laws by which the Society is governed, it is, therefore, very questionable whether such can be done, without first forming District Boards proper, when the laws could be revised to suit the requirements of this colony. Whilst the thanks of the Otago branches are due to the

indefatigable secretary of the Dunedin Branch and his fellow officers, for taking upon themselves the grave responsibility of revising the Dunedin Branch Laws, and framing laws for Boards of Management, yet I fear their efforts must fail without the immediate co-oporation of those branches wishing to form a district. Now I hope to be pardoned for suggesting that it is necessary for them, say at their next meeting-, to give expression of their opinion by a resolution according to the District Board Laws, and forward the same to the secretary at Melbourne, who would, of course, send the required number of applications to the Executive Directory for approval. This seems to me the first step to be taken, and without which little can be done. 1 have read, with pleasure, the several able letters which appeared in your worthy paper on the subject, and I have no doubt the Society in this colony is prepared for the change. It is very well to discuss the subject ; but this surely can be done without leaning so heavily on its Executive Directory, or its past or present officers, all of whom, without doubt, have rendered valuable services to the Society. After all nothing extraordinary has happened at the Annual Meeting except the placing of some of the right men in the wrong place. This is because the wheel goes round, and long may it continue so. Why should we be angry thereat ? We can try our luck again, and pull together for the good cause for which we are united as brothers of a family, six thousand strong, and not like your Napier correspondent who, if things do not go right now, is going to retire from the profitless occupation. Of course, it is quite possible to pull too hard even for a good cause, and this, L tear, he has done. I say to him, "never despair; there is a good time coining." — I am, &c, Invercargill, August 12, 1876. John Maher.