Archbishop Kelly's Impressions of New Zealand

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 16, 20 April 1905, Page 29

Archbishop Kelly's Impressions of New Zealand

'J^lew Zealand is a beautiful country, and it has one characteristic which (icmarked his Grace Archbishop Kelly to a representative of the S\ diicy 'Catholic Press ') I observed with considerable pleasure.' ' And what is that, your Grace ? ' ! ' It has no dominating sectarianism,' he replicH, 'and the fair and healthy tone of the press in that country u> in strong contrast to some of the journalistic metro Is that prevail in our own Australia. I found the nevvsrpapers extremely anxious to record my utterances faiily, and to avoid any likelihood of misrepresentation. \\'e know how indifferent to justice our local papers often aiq when their news items concern the Church, ml how they are prone to publish any statements regarding it without troubling to satisfy themselves as to the correctness of fheir data. Now, in New Zealand the press has an onposit^, spirit. As an example of this I might mention the name Kelly, which appeared in connection with the recent controversy on socialism, was suppofsed in New Zealand to Le identical with mine, for the press messages were not very clear. But the newspapers at once sent to me to know if the assumption was correct, and of course I was able to put them right. Here the papers are anxious enough to publish news, but they rarely inquire from official sources to fin,d out whether it is correct or not. ' The climate of New Zealand is more like that of Ireland than Australia,' said his Grace, ' and,' he aulded, with a little smile, ' there is a similar absence of serpents. ' ' What did your Grace think of Ihe Maoris ? '

' They are a fine stalwart people,' replied Dr. Kelly. ' I went up the Wanganui Ri\er and saw the whares or nati\e houses, and 1 noticed that all the Maoris wore European costumes. But I think in places there is just a liUle want of perseverance, as far as religion is concerned. At Rotor ua I noticed that the Maoris did not seem to distinguish between day and day, and did not seem to understand why they should observe Sunday in any extraordinary way. But taken under more favorable circumstance^, where they are not so much in contact with the whites, the Maoris are most lehgious. At Paeroa, for instance, within the district oi Uotoiiua, too, I was informed that they meet daily in the church to say the " Angelas," and their demotion could hardly be surpassed.' 1 The Church is well organised in New Zealand,' continued Ins Grace, ' and has a fine equipment of Catholic sohools. Tncfce are inspected by the diocesan and Governmeuit inspectors conjointly, the ecclesiastical inspector carrying out the examination whioh the Government inspector recommends, and the system works very well.' ' But there is no State aid to denominational schools ? ' ' No,' said his Grace, ' there is not. Whilst I was in New Zealand I had occasion to refer to the question oi religious education, and the newspapers took the matter up ?nvl admitted the force of our presentation (of the claims of religious education, complete and sound, to a first place in the curriculum of primary schools. I pointed out that children, by their natural character, wi'l neglect to learn religious lessons unless these form part of the school programme. Children in time become parent-.. Thus religious knowledge will be extincl. As a consequence no inner principles of morality will govern individuals ; virtue will be ridiculod ; the sce'ung afler luxury and money and enjoyment will generate in society the elements of dissolution. The fruits of education divorced from religion will shock the publi • n md, when Pro idence will in m«ercy lead pub he of-inim to the vvav sof wisdom. The day must come when tv\o points will stand \ indicated — first, the duty of parents to provide sound religious education along with secular injstruction ; secondly, the injustice, as well as tyranny mi fatality, of the State in attempting to penalise citi/cns for the fulfilment of conscientious duty to their chi'dren It was also pointed out that the reasonable divisions of denominations would be limited to three — Jews, Catholics, non-Catholics. Tflie conditions of efficiency in every respect is understood.' The prohibition movement in New Zealand also attracted the Coad.iutor-Archbishop's attention, but although he is a strong believer in total abstinence, he regarded it ay a very serious matter to make a law urohibiting v, hat is naturally lawfrl 'If a man wants diink and cannot get it lawfully, hell get it unlawfully,' said Dr Kdly. ' I am not sanguine regarding the success of any such Liw, and we mrst be very careful abo'it rcstnctng natural liberty, rjut I would recommend anyone m the public house line to get out as spee--dly as possible. It is not conducive to a happy life or the pro; er reading of the family. I would advise men, too, to S'/.end their money with the baker and butcher and grocer, and not with the hotels. His Grace was satisfied with the spirit of Irish naticnahly that e\i<-'ted in New Zealand. When he left "roaratio' s w ere beno; made to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in O-'clip, Cht i ,tchurih, and in Auckland, and a fair cjitlu'iaMn pie.ailod. ITe had a word'of admiration, too, fo r t\'.Q new Cathedral at Christchurch, which he <!c ci ibe-; as a gem of cclcsiastical architecture. It is te; feet in all its proportions, and at the same time most sol.dlv con c t ructed The stone of which it is hjuilt is roci.haih' pretty, and his Grace considers the builders foit-n.ite in having such s- lendid material at hand. 'The Cathedral cost £10,000,' said his Grace, 'but a Gothic structure of the same dimensions would cost £70i,000. That gi'ics you some idea of its size.' By t<'ie scinTY of New Zealand Dr. Kelly was much impressed. 'It is really a wonderland,' he says. ' The magnificent gorges, the boiling springs, the strange gey-<e-s—all combine to fill the traveller with ama7enunt and delight. 'Apart altogether from the. scenery, which, of come, is lMiinc, New Zealand compares in many respect i very favorably with Australia. The farm holdings aro smaller, better tended, and give better results. The Lin f l i^ most fertile, and luxuriant crops repay t|he farmer.'