HIBERNIAN AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 178, 25 August 1876, Page 12

HIBERNIAN AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY.

To the Editor of the New Zealand Tablkt. g IR> in my last, which appeared in yours of July 28, 1 stated I would give some information that may be useful to the members if I saw they took an interest in the management of their own affairs. lam glad to see that some at least are doing so. lam surprised that Wellington, Auckland, Grahamatown, and many other Branches in this island are not saying a word, or making the slightest move in defence of their rights; if they do not make a speedy move they will be left out in the cold at the next A.M., as they were at the last. All honor is due to the Dunedin Branch, and their worthy Secretary, Brother Cantwell, for the leading part they are taking in the matter ; and lam sure the members generally feel thankful to you for your able leader on the subject a few weeks ago. I also admire the style of some of your correspondents, for instance that of " Treaty Stone," in the Tablet of August 4th. A few like him would give me some hope that my humble services in defence of New Zealand while I had the honor of representing its Branches and members were not entirely lost. He asks what has become of Brothers Howard, Templeton, and many others who have taken an active part in the business of the Society. I will answer without going into particulars, as time and space will not permit of it, that they have been quietly shelved for honestly doing their duty, and for which they have received nothing but the greatest ingratitude from the members of the Melbourne district. And if the men of New Zealand wish to show their gratitude for services rendered by those men, they will prepare to put them in their proper positions at the next A.M. ; if not, they deserve to be treated as they were at the hist A.M. I have just received a report of a meeting of the E,D., held on May 19th, and as I know it hasbeen circulated in every Branch of New Zealand, as I attended that meeting I cannot let it pass unnoticed. I must say it is one of the most spiteful and untruthful reports I have seen, and is another proof of the reckless manner of how those men spend the funds at their disposal in printing such rubbish. Page 10, clause 4of that report, where it refers to Brother Templeton, was not brought forward at the meeting, not a single line of it as reported, as I was there all the time sitting close to Brother Templeton, it Could only have originated in the mind of the present C. S. for some reason best known to himself. But what the men of New Zealand have to consider is whether their money is to be squandered in disputes between the C. S. and C. P. I say they deserve no better treatment if they send it there to be so spent. I have shown in my last how it can be kept at home, and the sooner the better. The expenses attending that meeting would not be less than .£4O or .£SO. I mentioned in my last that members were entitled to a ; twelve months drawback of threepence per member, in order to get that no time must be lost in making the demand for it. I would suggest that P. P. Howard or Templetoa, or both, be agent to receive this drawback on behalf of all the New Zealand Branches to be forwarded to them, or put to their credit as they may desire. If all Branches pass resolutions to this effect, and send them to Brother T. W. Howard, Miller-street, Hotham, Melbourne, it will be attended to. My reason for this is that to have this business done properly they must have an agent at headquarters who will take an active part in demanding their rights. From my knowledge of Brothers Howard and Templeton, I know they would consider it no trouble, but an honor to act in any way to forward the interests of the New Zealand Branches. I could write for a week on this subject and still have something fresh, but I have already trespassed too far on your valuable space, so with your permission I will close No. 2, and will get up something for No. 3.— 1 am &c, P. G. Napier, August 12, 1876. The following resolutions were passed and approved of at a Branch Meeting, at Napier, on July 26, 1876 :■%% 1. That this committee strongly protests against the ruling of the C.P. at last A.M., disqualifying delegates of this colony from voting, this Branch having been requested by letter dated 19th November, 1875, and hearing E.D. seal to appoint one. 2. That funeral money be at present retained by this Branch. ST. That this committee approves of districts being established in New Zealand. . . 4 That this committee is of opinion that the best means for facilitating the business of Societies in this Colony is to appoint two District Boards — one for the North and one for the Middle 5.' That this conurittee, after taking into consideration the fore«-oin«- resolutions, propose that this Branch communicate with all the other Branches established in this Island, requesting their co-operation in forming a District Board for this Island ; also with the Branches established in the Middle Island, requesting them to move in a similar direction for that Island. 6. That fifty copies of the above resolutions be printed and forwarded to all the» Branches of this Celony.