FEDERATED CATHOLIC CLUBS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 16, 22 April 1909, Page 612

FEDERATED CATHOLIC CLUBS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE (From our Wellington correspondent.) . The eighth annual conference of the Federated Catholic Clubs of New Zealand was opened in the St. Patrick's Hall, Boulcott street, on Saturday morning, April 10. The president (Mr. A. H. Casey) occupied .the chair, and among those present were .his Grace Archbishop Redwood, the Very Rev. Father O'Shea, S.M., V.G., and Rev. Father Yenning, S.M. A list of delegates appeared in your la3i> issue. The delegates were formally welcomed by the president. In extending a welcome to the delegates his Grace the Archbishop referred to the great work which was being done by the Catholic clubs, and said he would like to see a club formed in every important parish- of the Dominion. Boys after leaving school should belong to some organisation, and no better one could be found than a good Catholio club. He congratulated the federation on the success of the past year, and trusted that the coming year would also show good results. He hoped that the Magazine -would also flourish; it was a credit to the editorial staff. He urged upon the members the desirability of being loyal to the club and taking every advantage of its benefits, as by doing so they would be true sons of the Church, and worthy citizens of the Dominion. The Very Rev. Father O'Shea (President of the Wellington Catholic Club) and Rev. Father Yenning (spiritual director) also welcomed the delegates. The president thanked his Grace and the clergy for the interest they showed by attending the conference. On behalf of the delegates, he congratulated his Grace on his attaining his seventieth birthday, and trusted that he might be long spared to the Church in the. '.Dominion. His Grace in replying thanked the delegates for their kind wishes, and said that he would like their prayers for his welfare. Two newly formed clubs, Timaru and St. Canice's, Westport, were admitted to the federation, which makes the total 22 affiliated clubs. Annual Report. The president then read the report, which was as follows : — Since last annual conference clubs established at Napier and Wellington South have joined the federation. There are now twenty affiliated clubs, viz., Auckland, Onelnmga, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Napier, Hastings, Palmerston North, Petone, Wellington, Wellington South, Blenheim, Greymouth, Hokitika, Christchurch, Ashburton, Temuka, Oamaru, Dunedin, South Dunedin, and Invercargill. There are many towns in the Dominion with a fairly large Catholic population in which a Catholic club should exist, but does not. Great difficulty is experienced by the executive in establishing new clubs. Equally great difficulty is experienced in maintaining among the existing affiliated clubs that spirit of enthusiasm, co-operation, and loyalty which is essential to the success of the federation and of the club individually. If the good which has already resulted from the federation is to continue and increase, if the existing clubs are to grow stronger and prosper and if new clubs are to be established, it would seem that the appointment of & - travelling organiser is a matter which will require consideration in the near future. During the year your executive has awarded diplomas as follows : — To Messrs. G. J. Fama and J. G. Yenning for meritorious services in the interests of Catholic clubs, and to Messrs. T. O'Shea (Auckland), J. Coe (Napier), J. MoGowan (Wellington), E. Casey (Greymouth), , P;f- McNamara (Christchurch), and J. R. Wallace (Oamaru) for oratory. Essay and oratorical competitions were promoted by^your executive during the past season, "but it is regrettable that there was no entry for the former competition, and that only six clubs -out of twenty held an oratorical competition. A perusal of the balance sheet (general account) will show that the subscriptions of ten clubs are in arrear. The annual subscription is not large, and those clubs which are in default should give the matter their attention. The financial position of the Caiholic Magazine may be considered satisfactory laving regard to the difficulty (as compared with former years) of procuring advertisements, whichare the main source of revenue. The amount of subscriptions in arrear is abnormally large, despite the strenuous efforts of the business manager to better the returns. The subscription is only 2s 6d per annum, and all members of affiliated clubs sliould support the Magazine (which is the official organ of the federation) not only by becoming subscribers, but also by paying their subscriptions promptly. Members should also support the literary side of the, Magazine by contributing suitable articles for the quarterly

issues.- Your executive desires, to direct attention to Rule 15 (b), which provides for the election of honorary members of the federation. There are, no doubt, in the various centres many Catholic gentlemen who would appreciate the position and help the cause of Catholic clubs as honorary members. Affiliated cliibs could do much to assist the federation by securing the consent of any such gentlemen co election as honorary members of the federation, and by forwarding the nominations to the executive It is much regretted by the executive that during the past year several clubs have evinced very little, if, indeed, any, interest in federation matters. Some of the clubs referred to are not newly-established clubs, and it is a matter of grave concern that this apathy should exist, more especially among some- of the older clubs. It is proposed to publish in future issues of the Catholic Magazine reports of the more important business transacted by the executive, and stieh reports will disclose, if necessary, the attitude of the various clubs on federation matters. If the federation Js to progress and to be a beneficial factor in the Catholic community greater interest must be shown by affilia,t< clubs in the affairs of the federation, and, greater cooperation must be given to the executive in its work. Some proposals with the object of ensuring these results will be brought forward by the executive at the forthcoming conference. The executive wishes to thank the clubs generally for such assistance and support as have been given to it during the past term, and trusts that the ensuing year will be one of renewed enthusiasm and activity, and of great benefit to all affiliated clubs. The balance sheet of the Catholic Magazine account showed the total receipts to be £132 10s 7d, including a credit balance from 1907 of £14 8s 7d, the other items being advertisements £91 12s and subscriptions £26 10s. The expenditure was made up- of £90 for printing, general expenses £22 6s 2d, and part payment of loan £10, leaving a credit balance of £10 4s sd. . The report and balance sheet were adopted. Mr. E. Casey (Greyniouth) moved, and Mr. D. Moriarty (Wellington South) seconded, an amendment of Rule 5, referring to the election of officers of the federation. The motion was negatived by 17 votes to 6. Mr. J. McGowan moved the deletion of the words ' the committee ' and the substitution of the words 'a general meeting,' so as to provide that the officers of the federation shall be recommended for election at the annual conference by a general meeting of the Wellington Catholic Club instead of by the committee of that club. Mr. J. W. Callaghan proposed that the power of nominating to the annual conference the officers for the ensuing year be vested in a joint committee cf five executive officers from all federated Catholic clubs within a radius of ten miles of Wellington. The amendment was carried. The conference adjourned to Godber's for luncheon, at which the toast of the visiting delegates was proposed by the president, and responded to by Mr. P. McNamara (Christchurch). On resuming, Mr. J. W. Callaghan (Wellington) moved, and Mr. A. Cuilen (Auckland) seconded, that 'any member of an affiliated club, who is eligible for election as an officer of the federation, and who is duly authorised by his club so to do, shall, when visiting Wellington, be entitled to attend such meetings of the executive as may be held during his visit and to join in the discussion of the business of such meetings, but he shall not be entitled to exercise any vote thereupon.' The motion was agreed to ' .On the motion of Mr. E.Oasey (Greymouth), seconded by Mr. J. J. Sullivan (New Plymouth), the following amendment of Rule 7 was agreed to : « The deletion of the second sentence and the substitution of the following words —viz., "such conference shall be attended by councillors or delegates representing affiliated clubs ; clubs with' a membership of not less than 50 to be entitled to send two delegates, clubs with a lesser membership than 50 to be entitled to send one delegate, each delegate to have one vote." ' {j /, K r< ,?• J ' S^tli (Greymouth) and Mr. A. Cuilen (Auckland) proposed and seconded that ' each affiliated club shall arrange for the celebration, on the first Sunday of September in each year, of a Mass for the repose of the soul of deceased members of all affiliated clubs, ' which was passed. The President moved, and it was agreed to, that a vote of condolence be^sent to the Napier Catholic Club on the death of its president, Mr. R. P.- Clarkson. On behalf of the. executive, the following amendments were made to rule 7: 'The deletion of the fourth sentence, and the substitution of the following words— viz., " Any established Catholic club not already admitted to the federation, shall be entitled to send a delegate or delegates to the annual conference on the same basis of representation as is hereinbefore provided in the case of affiliated clubs, and such delegate or delegates (as the case may be) may

on. the invitation, of the president of the conference, join in the deliberations of the conference, but shall not be entitled to exercise any vote or to address the conference as of right until the admission of the club to the federa- "~ tion." . . The addition of the following words — viz., "A delegate or delegates (not more than two) from any I; town in which it is proposed to establish a Catholic cluo may attend the annual conference, and may, on the invitation of the president of the conference, join in the de- ' liberations of the conference, but shall not" be entitled to exercise any vote." ' Mr. McGovern moved, and Mr. A. HT Casey seconded, as a further amendment of rule 7 : ' The deletion of the last sentence [locale of annual conference] and the substitution of the following words — viz., " The annual conference shall be lield alternately at Christchiirch and Wellington." ' Mr. J. -McGowan proposed that the annual conference be held alternately in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, which was not agreed to. •The motion was then put and lost by 22 votes to 6. On the motion of Mr. McGovern,- seconded by Mr. P. J. Smyth, the following amendment was made in rule 9 : ' The deletion of the second sentence and tli'e substitution of the following -words — viz., "The honorary secretary shall at least six weeks before the date fixed for each annual conference transmit to. each affiliated club a written notice specifying the time and place at which the conference 19 to be held, and the to be transacted thereat. The honorary secretary shall also at least four weeks before such date transmit to each affiliated' club a copy of the annual report and balauce sheet." ' The President proposed as a new rule that ' the executive may appoint a member of each affiliated club as its l official representative in such club. Such official representative shall be entitled to attend all meetings of his club or of the club's executive at which federation business is transacted, and to join in the discussion of such business, but he shall not be entitled as such official representative to exercise any vote thereupon.' This was carried. The election of executive officers resulted as follows: — President-General, his Grace Archbishop Redwood; president, Mr. A. H. Casey; vice-president, Mr. H. McKeowen; lion, secretary, Mr.' S. J. Moran; hon. treasurer, Mr. J. McGowan ; committee, Messrs. D. Moriarty, P. J. McGovern, and L. T. Reichel. Mr. H. McKeowen proposed, and it was carried, 'that the executive of every affiliated club appoint an accredited person to watch the interests of the Catholic Magazine, to receive subscriptions and obtain advertisements.' Mr. L. T. Reichel read a paper on ' The True Ideals of Catholic Clubs,' which was very favorably received and commented upon. Mr. A. Cuilen reported on the Auckland Club, and stated that there were 200 financial members. Every member nominated had to pay a nomination fee before election, which becomes his first year's subscription when elected. It is found that this is a good method, as the" roll does not become filled with unfinancial members. Mr. Smyth read the report of the St. Columfca Club, Greymouth, which has a roll of 110 members. It stated that in the annual elocutionary contest the club's representatives secured the championship cup. A most pleasing feature of the past year was the splendid attendances at the quarterly Communions. Mr. Dowling, the delegate for Hastings, gave an interesting account of the doings cf the club. The membership is 51. New and up-to-date club rooms are in course of erection. Mr. Burke (Hokitika) reported that there were 30 members, and the credit bal- , ance was £40. The report of the Petone Catholic Club, read by Mr. T. Fitzgerald, showed that there were* 53 members. Mr. L. Leydon reported on St. Canice's Club, Westport. The new club rooms were opened in August by the Yen. Archpriest Walshe. The cost of building, billiard table, and furniture was £600, of .which £80 has been paid. The Yen. Archpriest Walshe presented the club with the site. The membership is 72. Mr. Moriarty read a report from the Wellington- South Club. The membership is 120. • The total liability on the hall and two billiard tables is £358. A junior club has been organised for boys between the ages of 13 and 19 years, and there are 56 members. Reports were also received from Mr. J. McGowan (Wellington), with a membership of 190; Mr. W. Scanlon (Palmerston North), membership 40; Mr. E. Higgins (Blenheim), membership 82; Mr. P. McNamara (Christchurch), membership 85. ' ' The following suggestions were brought forward and agreed to : ' That it be a recommendation to each of the affiliated clubs that any member leaving a club shall not be admitted to another without first producing a clearance showing that he was a financial member thereof. That, if any member suspended by an affiliated club intended joining another club, and it became known to the executive

of the club that imposed the suspension, the secretary should advise the club -the suspended member was applying for admission to. That the names and addresses of the secretaries, also meeting nights of the clubs, be inserted in the Catholic Magazine. That junior clubs for boys be established wherever possible. "That the executive (federal)" appoint a commission to inquire into the position of any weak club and do' all in its power to resuscitate the same. That all members of affiliated clubs be admitted to the annual conferences.' Mr. E. Casey moved that the locale of the next conference be Greymouth. Mr. P. J. McGovern proposed that it be held at Christchurch. Upon a vote being taken, Greymouth was chosen "by 14 votes to 10. The president read papers relating to the St. Vincent de Paul Society from the secretary (Mr. L. T. Reichel) of the Particular Council, Wellington District, and relating to the Catholic Seamen's Conference from the president- ' (Mr. James McCusker) of the conference. A special resolution was passed that the thanks of the conference be given to the retiring .secretary .(Mr. P. J. McGovern). A vote of thanks to the other outgoing officers and to Mr. James McCusker, who acted as reporter during the conference, and to the representative of the N.Z. Tablet and the president brought the conference to a close. A good attendance of the delegates and the members of the local club attended St. Mary of the Angels' Church on Easter Sunday, at tlie 8 o'clock Mass, and approached the Holy Table. The Rev. Father Vending, S.M., spiritual director, addressed them, taking as his subject ' Christian Manhood.' After Mass the members partook of breakfast at the Okareta Private Hotel. The delegates, at the conclusion of the breakfast, resumed business. On ' Sunday afternoon the delegates and members of the local club proceeded by special tram car to Seatoun, and spent a pleasant time at the residence of the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., who had kindly placed the house and grounds at their disposal. On Easter Monday afternoon the visitors were entertained by the St. Anne's (Wellington South) Catholic Club. The delegates were the guests of the committee of the .Wellington South Catholic bazaar on Saturday and Easter Monday evenings.