HIBERNIAN SOCIETY TRIENNIAL MOVABLE MEETING

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, 21 March 1907, Page 23

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY TRIENNIAL MOVABLE MEETING

(From our Auckland correspondent.) The triennial movable meeting of the New/ Zealand District of the H.A.C.B. Society was opened in- the Hibernian Hall "on Wednesday, March 13. Brother' P. J/ Nerteny . , (district president) ." was in ,the chair, and "there .we're some 45 delegates present. His Lordship Bishop Lenihan was present at the morning " sitting. In opening, the" proceedings Bro. P. J. iNerhenywelcomed the delegates. He remarked -that- it had been 20 years since Auckland had had one of the triennial meetings. He congratulated the members on the Society's financial position, and expressed pleasure at the steady increase in the Funeral fund, which had "now over £6000* in credit, while the other funds had largely increased. . There were marked increases in memibers, and Hibernianism- .was maWng good"' progress, both'financially anfd otherwise. He s'o'-e strongly against the course some of the societies had taken in binding delegates to vote a certain way in respect to some questions. - 'His Lordship Bishoi) Len'han said that it gave' him very great pleasure to welcome the delegates. Hie thought? that it would ha\e beon better had the meeting been held at Easter, so that Lent might have been avoided, and th"v would v have been able to enr tertain the visiting delegates * in a suitable manner.

He regretted that the Catholic Cathedral had not been ready for opening while they were present. He wished the Society every success, and said he had asked the priests to help in any way they could. He hoped that the feeling between the Society and the clergy of New Zealand would be' such that there would "be ' union and good will, which would tend to the betterment of the Society and the workers who might join it. The executive had' worked liara* in Auckland, and marvellous success had attended their efforts. Bro. M. T. Dennehy (Timaru) was elected to the position of minute secretary. Executive Report. — The executive officers in their report . said that it was a matter for mutual congratulation that the Society had made such progress. They were pleased fc to report a general increase in the funds. - The financial fund was' in credit £322 4s, after paying funeral claims amounting to £160. The general fund was -in credit £40, anrl the guaranifcee fund £30 9s 2d. Of the funeral fund £6225 was lent on first-class freehold security, as also was £200 of the guarantee fund. There was an increase of membership in branches with few exceptions. This was particularly noticeable in Dunedin and Wellington, while Auckland and Ohristohurch and others were experiencing a more normal influx. The report was received and adopted, as also was the balance-sheet. 'The auditors reported everything satisfactory, and considered the general account in a very healthy condition. 'They recommended that a properly-equipped office and an sadequate safe should be secured, as at present their securities, etc., were not protected against fire. . It was stated that there were some 30 "branches contributing to the guaxr an tee fund. Balance Sheets.— -Bro. O'Connor St. Joseph'S" branch, Dunedin, moved, ' That branch secretaries, subject to the approval of their respective trustees, prepare half-yearly balance-sheets in Heu of quarterly, and that all rules affected by the alteration be amended to conform with such alteration.' The Wellington delegate seconded. It was urged that by the amendment suggested the secretaries would ihave "more time for other duties. The district secretary. Bro. -Kane, said that the alteration, would disorganise the system of the Society. He urged Bro. O'Connor to withdraw the motion, as it would not be in the interests of the Society to have half-yearly balance-sheets. Several delegates spoke against the alteration, and the mover withdrew the motion. Appointment of Deputies.— The -following motion was moved by a delegate from St. Joseph's branch, Dunedin : ' That a deputy be appointed from the South Island for the purpose of visiting -the outlying districts _„ when requested by the district executive to- do so, with the view to establishing and opening 'branches, and discharging any other functions to be decided on at the District ' Board meeting.' The mover said that the South Island people felt that it was a disgrace that in many of the districts of the South Island there was no branch formed. It would mean an enthusiasm developed in the extreme South that would do an immense amount- of good to the whole of the South Island. If such an officer were appointed it would give an impetus to the cause. The "president (Bro. Nerh&ny) pointed out that the promoters of the motion wanted a man appointed by one body, and to receive his instructions from anot'he". Such an arrangement would cause friction. Brother O'Connor seconded the motion. The Hon. W. Beehan moved an amendment deleting the words ' South Island, 1 and substituting the words ' whole Colony,' and deleting all words after the word ' functions,' .Bro. J. J. Marlow (Diunedin) said it was the best possible proof of ,con1 fidence in the executive that it was proposed that the deputy should apt at 'the request of the district executive. Bro. J. Duggan (Oamaru) said he presumed that the deputy would.be paid by . the District Board. " If a deputy were appointed; he said, let him operate not in a special locality, -bait throughout the Colony. - Bro. G. J. Sellars (Ctiristehurch) opposed the" amendment, and supported the motion. In the northern district pounds had 'been spent in advancing the society. He did not say that was wrong, but what he did say was that they should nave a man in the^ southto further the interests of -the society. They had no animosity for the north, but it ' was impossible for "the executive in Auckland 'to- do the necessary establishing of branches in Ihe south. .. Bro. F. J. Doolan (Milton), in supporting; the motion, said t<hat from three years past up till June last, the southern branches had contributed to the management fund £311 against £226 by the northern branches, while the southern 'branches had 1272 members against 974 members for the north. Several other delegates spoVe, and Bro. J. J. Marlon mart" an elective reply. He agreed to strike out the words ' district hoard meetintr,' and thus r'lace the power in the hands of the distriot executive. This

met with the approval of the mover and seconder bi the amendment, which was- withdrawn.' The motion wajs further amended on the motion of Bro.- J. Cullan. (Wellington), so that a deputy should be appointed by the executives for Otago, Wellington, and Canterbury, * and any other centres .where they should think fit. After ' having been discussed for over four hours, the m<K. tion, as- amended, was carried amidst acclamation.""' The proceedings were "then adjourned until next morning.