The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1910. EASTER CONFERENCES

New Zealand Tablet, 7 April 1910, Page 541

The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1910. EASTER CONFERENCES

W 9 important Catholic societies— TOW *k® ; B '^ OC . iety , and the Federated Cath- * W^ , Men s Clubs—held conferences during Society and the Federated Cathlic Men s Clubs—held conferences during Easter week, that of the H.A.C.B. Society being the important triennial conference. -Both organisations were able to report subjt&Si stantial progress since their last annual gath!r e V . Numerically and financially,’ said 'W ' ! he ™an of the H.A.C.B. Society , cono nn i+ • • f erence ; .in his presidential address, ‘the Society is improving by leaps and bounds.’ We cordially congratulate the Society on this very gratifying fact In all the range of Catholic lay activity in New 7 Zealand there ttme°hm!m a JVST 11 better deserving of support than the' time-honored Hibernian Society. It is an association of bi others to stand by one another and to lift up one another in the day of need and suffering and sorrow. It offers at east as high monetary benefits as the least objectionable non-Catholic associations of a similar nature. It presents moreover’ the vital advantage of social intercourse between Catholics and Catholics in a Catholic atmosphere. It provides warm Catholic sympathy by the bedside of the sick and the open grave of the dead, and its broad charity goes out to the deceased brother or sister beyond the portals ot death. It is the only representative in our midst of those ideal benefit and social organisations, the old Catholic guilds of the middle ages, which did so much to emancipate and dignify honest toil, and to make the England of prelieformation days the paradise of the worker of every degree. If any of our societies deserve success it is the Hibernians, and we are heartily glad' that in such large and increasing measure they have achieved it. ' * Judging by the reports as so far available, the two most important features of the H.A.C.B. Society conference were the adoption of a proposal whereby any financial benefit member may, under certain conditions, assure a sum of £SO at death, in addition to his £2O funeral allowance, by paying quarterly in advance to the funeral fund according to a fixed scale, and the discussion on the questionof forming two districts in New Zealand. Regarding the former, the supporters of .the proposal seem to us to have fully justified their position. It is possible, as suggested by a Wellington delegate, that to some slight extent the innovation may be regarded as trenching on the domain of the 'insurance companies, but the encroachment is more apparent than real and, as a Canterbury delegate remarked, a friendly society such as the Hibernians cannot offer too many inducements to young men, to join. It is absolutely essential, of course, that the new scheme should be based on a sound actuarial foundation. The question of forming two or more districts in New Zealand evoked what the daily papers have described, in large capitals, as ‘ a stormy discussion.’ We believe that the discussion—initiated, according to the report; by Bro. Marlow, the last man in the world to introduce mere factious or unnecessary disputation— eminently desirable. -It is the worst possible policy to allow discontent and dissatisfaction whether well-grounded or otherwiseto go on simmering, and it would have been a fatal blunder to attempt to evade or stifle legitimate criticism and discussion. The question at issue was not one of principle, but of administration,

pure and simple; and the vigor and vim exhibited in the debate afford conclusive - evidence that, whatever else the Society may lack, it is not wanting in vitality. In the end wise and moderate counsels prevailed, with the result that the atmosphere has been cleared, and matters placed on a settled and stable footing for at least some years to come. < * The conference of the Federated Catholic Men’s Clubs had also to face some difference of opinion regarding the location of the Federated Executiveit is, to a greater or less degree, a chronic trouble with all federations the matter was apparently settled without difficulty. The amendment to make the location of the Federated Executive movable was lost, and the executive is permanently located in Wellington. The report presented at the conference showed that there are 22 affiliated clubs, while a number of others are about to bo admitted to the Federation. Perhaps the most pressing need for our young men’s societies is a definite and tangible objective. The figures submitted at the conference show that there is no lack of ‘ steam ’ or motive power —what is wanted is that members should be given some practical outlet for their activity. We are glad to see that this was recognised by the conference, and that it was decided to support such eminently practical measures as the movement for the establishment of conferences of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Catholic Seamen’s Conferences, and to help to increase the membership of the H.A.C.B. Society. We might gently hint that most similar societies'also make the support of the Catholic press an important plank in their platform, remembering that in the Catholic newspaper we have the most powerful and effective weapon for the defence of the Catholic faith and cause. The next annual conference is to be held at Christchurch ; and in view of the central situation of the city, of the handsome new club rooms established by the local club, and of the well-known enthusiasm of the Christchurch people for the young men’s organisation, it is safe to anticipate that the gathering will be a conspicuous success. » - A notable and entirely satisfactory feature of the conferences was the evidence by fraternal resolutions and otherwiseof " a tendency towards a closer union between the two societies. Both organisations—and the Church at large—stand to benefit by such a union. So far we have not, in New Zealand, any one general organisation of the Catholic ’ laity. But our grievances are still unredressed ; and in view of certain proposals, from time to time put forward, which would have the effect of increasing the hardships and injustice inflicted on Catholic children and the Catholic body, the day may, come when it will be necessary for Catholics to organise in defence of their most important rights and their most vital interests. If such organised action should be called, for, it is satisfactory to know that we have, in the two societies represented at the conferences which have just closed, the nucleus of an organisation which would be at once representative and effective, and which could be brought into being without difficulty and without delay.