CARE OF THE IMMIGRANT

New Zealand Tablet, 10 July 1913, Page 27

CARE OF THE IMMIGRANT

The following address was delivered by the retiring president (Mrs. A. T. Reichel) of ,the ladies’ auxiliaries of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Wellington, at a meeting of the members of the executive of the Catholic Federation and the council of the St. Vincent de Paul Society which was called to form a sub-committee, under whose guidance the ladies’ volunteer committee of the Catholic Immigration Society will work: ' ‘ Before proceeding with the business of the meeting a few words relative to the circumstances which led to the formation of a Catholic Immigration Committee may* not be out of place. For some time before his death, the late zealous and saintly Father Charles Venning had been trying to bring into operation some "cherne for meeting, and keeping in touch with, our Catholic immigrants. He realised that the future would bring developments in immigration matters, which if Catholics were not prepared to meet, they would be guilty, not only of serious neglect and apathy, but would also run the risk of having their rights as a community invaded, and so expose their brethren from overseas to grave dangers to their faith. Unfortunately this zealous priest met his death before the completion of the arrangements, and the St. Vincent de Paul Auxiliaries, with the help of the Federation, have been endeavoring to put his ideas into practice. That the time is ripe for such a movement, recent developments in the Government Immigration Department clearly prove as also does a letter addressed to the Catholic Women’s League (England) on the same subject by his Holiness the Pope. Though some may not realise the urgency of the work, the activity of our non-Catholic friends in this field leaves no doubt as to the necessity of action on the part of the Catholics of this Dominion, if we do not wish to be overshadowed in this, as in other fields of activity. In'fact, I will go further, and say that as the spiritual as well as the temporal welfare of our immigrant brethren is at stake, we are bound in duty to welcome and assist them on arrival amongst us. During the few visits which I made recently to incoming Home vessels, I was forcibly struck by the entire absence of any suggestion of Catholicity in' New Zealand, in the atmosphere, and methods of meeting and landing of immigrants. The health officers’ boat that went out to meet the Corinthic, a couple of weeks ago, carried no less than three non-Catholic ministers, besides the matrons and other representatives of the Y.W.C.A. and Anglican hostels, whilst we, the Catholic representatives, were looked upon and treated as intruders. A new arrival could not fail to conclude that either we are a very negligent community, or a weak and degraded one, unable or afraid to show its face. Now, I do not wish to theorise or sentimentalise, yet, I ask you as members of the Catholic Federation, is it not our business to be represented in this, as in other public concerns ? It is true our immigrants are comparatively few, but even those few are come, we hope, to make good Catholic citizens of this Dominion. I speak here also of the more prosperous class of immigrant, known as the settler and small capitalist. If the newcomer, of whatever class he may be, gets the impression that the prestige of Catholics is low in this country, that alone is a serious temptation to him, since he has come with the determination to better his fortunes. Now, I ask you whose duty it is to maintain the standard of Catholics in this country ? Have we not the right as a body to the highest prestige here ? Most of us are natives of this fair land of which our parents or grandparents were the pioneers same parents in many instances were forced to leave the old British homelands, because fidelity to the faith had reduced their ancestors to poverty. In hardships and sorrows, these pioneers brought and planted that same faith in this Britain of the South, and it is for us, their children, born in a free land, to guard and cherish this precious treasure and heritage. Therefore, as children of the early settlers, we have the best right to be foremost _ in welcoming our brethren from overseas, and showing them that here is a land where Catholicity need not hang its head, but stands for able and loyal citizenship as well as the glory 6f God.’