FATHER HOLBROOK ON HIS TRAVELS

New Zealand Tablet, 3 July 1913, Page 13

FATHER HOLBROOK ON HIS TRAVELS

; INTERESTING VIEWS AND DETAILS _. Very Rev. Henry F. Holbrook, Adm!, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland, New Zealand, arrived in his native Wexford a few days ago to spend a portion of a well-earned holiday with the members of his family in the .town (says the Wexford People). Father Holbrook has been eleven years in Auckland, and a short time ago was appointed Chancellor of that diocese. He was cordially welcomed by many old; friends, both clerical and lay, in Wexford. During the week a People representative had the pleasure of an interview with Father Holbrook, and in reply to the expressed wish that he would enjoy his holiday, Father Holbrook said: 'Surely you need never ask any son of Ireland, especially a Wexford man, if he is pleased to revisit the land of his birth and the scenes of his boyhood. lam indeed delighted. Since January 17 last, when the Bishop and my brother priests, with some hundreds of the laity—Catholic and non-Catholic—assembled to bid me bo n voyage at Auckland, I have had a splendid home trip, visiting Egypt, the Holy Land, Constantinople, Rome, through the Riviera to Lourdes, Ghent Paris, and London, a journey altogether lasting over fourteen weeks. I have received twelve months' leave of absence, and hope to return to New Zealand, via America, towards the end of the present year.' In reply to a query as to the prosperity of New Zealand as a country, Father Holbrook said—Speaking generally, for many years past there has been a sustained wave of prosperity over. the whole of New Zealand, especially the North Island, of which Auckland is the principal port. An instance of what this prosperity has meant is afforded by the fact that land in Queen street, Auckland, has been sold at £I2OO a foot—one hundred pounds an inch ! ' The prosperity of the country must attract many emigrants/ remarked our reporter. ' Naturally,' replied Father Holbrook. ' With the continued development of the land, not only have immigrants been attracted from other countries, but numbers come from the southern part of New Zealand to the more prosperous north. The country would bear ten times its present population, and the Government authorities are anxious to encourage immigrants of a desirable class. Skilled tradesmen will do well, but the unskilled worker will have to take his chance in the labor market just the same as he does at home, and if he does not like hard work it would be better if he stayed at home. The extension of trade through that part of Auckland is enormous, and is still steadily increasing. New ferro-concrete wharves to accommodate the trade are at present in course of construction, and when complete will, it is estimated, cost over a quarter of a million sterling. The municipal as well as the Dominion Government is most up-to-date and progressive in every respect.' 'I believe women possess the franchise in New Zealand?' said our reporter. 'That is so,' replied Father Holbrook. 'Every person, male and female, over 21 years of age, possesses a vote, both municipal and Parliamentary, after 12 months' residence in the country. The result of the system is that we possess very solid, sound, progressive men in public life. The working classes have undoubtedly' the preponderating power, and they exercise that power very well and very wisely in every respect. Owing to the extended franchise system is due the sound, democratic legislation > for which New Zealand has been remarkable for years. It was one of the first countries to adopt compulsory land purchase, from which so many Land Acts have Jieen copied. A scheme of old age pensions was passed ago, the age limit being 60 years, and the pension ten shillings a week. The Government have also made a fair and honest attempt for the establishment of arbitration in the settlement of trade disputes.' - What position does socialism occupy in labor circles in New Zealand asked? our reporter. There is an element of revolutionary socialism, which strove

to engraft itself on the labor movement, but the attempt 'was an absolute failure. This : failure was due in great measure to the broad franchise, the democratic Government, the sound commonsense of the people,' and taking matters all round, I believe it is true to say that the working classes are fairly satisfied with their lot. An eight-hours’ working day has been established by law in all trades, except those to which it obviously could not be applied. The usual working hours are from eight to twelve, with an hour for lunch,; and from one o’clock until five.’ Asked as to the prospects of employment in New Zealand, lather Holbrook said there is a well-known distinction in New Zealand, as in other* countries, between the unemployed and the unemployable. * Any man who wants work can get it in New Zealand, but unemployables are found in every country—looking for work and praying that they may never get it. ‘ The Irish in New Zealand,’ said Father Hol- ‘ whilst excellent citizens,, loyal to the country of their adoption, nevertheless retain their love for the Old Land, and are all staunch Home Rulers. So far as I know they are doing very well. lam sorry to note by the recent census that the population of Ireland has decreased during the last decade by over 68,000. It is, indeed, very sad, and I presume emigration mostly accounts for this. Why, with the bright prospects and improved conditions that we may reasonably expect in the not far distant future under Home Rule, one would have thought ; that the tide of emigration would have ceased—at least to a considerable extent. All things considered, I think our people will do as well by staying in the Old Land in the future—whatever about past. Of course the need for priests and nuns from Ireland still" exists. It is true the number's of vocations amongst the young New Zealanders and Australians are, thank God, increasing, both for the priesthood and for religious life. Flourishing colleges exist in Manly and Springwood, training students for the Australian priesthood; and at Mosgiel and Greenxneadows for the New Zealand priesthood. Large numbers of Australian and New Zealand ladies have been professed and many more are in the novitiates of the various religious communities, training especially for the noble work of teaching in the primary and secondary schools. All the communities, especially the Sisters of Mercy, will welcome as many suitable young Irish ladies as will volunteer for the glorious work of the Christian education of the children of the exiles of Erin. I know of no more necessary and sublime work for any young lady with a true vocation than that of a Sister of Mercy in New Zealand. The Marist Brothers are doing splendid educational work among the Catholic boys.’ , . Father Holbrook, on being asked as to the progress of the Catholic Church in New Zealand, replied—- ‘ The Church is progressing very favorably in the four dioceses. In Auckland city, I should say, the words Irish and Catholic were , almost synonymous terms. In New Zealand generally Catholics represent one-seventh of the population, and in Auckland one-fifth. Dr. Cleary, the distinguished Wexford Bishop, is a real champion for Faith and Fatherland under the Southern Cross. As you know, he for twelve years ably edited the New Zealand Tablet, and now more than ever woe betide-the one who, by voice or pen, attacks the fair fame of Ireland, or the principles or practices of our Holy Faith. In such circumstances, Dr. Cleary gives his opponent cause to regret having drawn him out. Under his able guidance, in two years a.sum of about £40,000 has been spent on new schools and convents. Among the Maoris, who are morally and physically a very fine race, there are many Catholics. The total Maroi, population would be about 30,000, and of that number I should say five thousand are Catholics. They are a fine, brave, generous race, and many prominent men in New Zealand to-day, including Sir James Carroll, who acted as Prime Minister in the absence of Sir Joseph Ward, and the Hon. Mr. Ngata, 8.L., are of Maori descent.’

x In the course of further conversation Father Holbrook paid a high tribute to the work of the H.A.C.B.

;Society in h New Zealand. /- Over twelve thousand- people attended the last St. Patrick's Day demonstration, when interesting displays were given by the children of | our ; Catholic - schools, the monetary proceeds being devoted towards schools' fund. It will ;be of interest to Wexford men to know that in Waverley, New South Wales, there is a monument to the heroes of '9B. It is a massive memorial thirty feet long by twenty-seven wide, and /bears the inscription In loving memory 'of air who dared and suffered for Ireland in 1798,' and the names of Father Murphy, Lord Edward Fitzgerald •Henry Joy MoCracken, Wolfe Tone, Robert Emmet, and /Michael and Mary Dwyer.' That the Irish are/ to be met-with the world over is a generally accepted fact, but it has been Father Holbrook's pleasure to meet with his fellow-countrymen and women in many remote and unexpected places. At Colombo he found a convent of St. Brigid conducted by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, ; who educated some hundreds of native children. The community consisted of six Irish nuns, two of whom were from Dublin, one from Kilkenny, and two from the West of Ireland. Coming out of a church in Constantinople, he met a Little Sister of the Poor, and mustering up his best French entered into conversation, asking if there were any Irish Sisters in the community. To his surprise he was answered with a delightful brogue Yes, Father I am from Belfast, and there is also another Irish Sister in the community.' In Rome the Irish Christian Brothers conduct a night school for the boys of the Eternal City, and there are as many as 543 pupils enrolled on the register. On reaching London Father Holbrook had the pleasure of renewing his acquaintance with Mr. Joseph Devlin, M.P., and Mr. Richard Hazleton, M.P., whom he had met during their Australian tours. He also met Mr. John E. Redmond, M.P., the leader of the Irish Party, and Mr. Peter Ffrench, M.P. for South Wexford, and had an opportunity of being present at debates in the House of Commons on two occasions.