CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 9 October 1913, Page 27

CATHOLIC FEDERATION

THE DOMINION EXECUTIVE. (From our Wellington correspondent.) The Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Catholic Federation has,, after careful consideration, appointed Mr. George Girling-Butcher as secretary and organiser. Mr, Girling-Butcher is well known in almost every part of New Zealand. He has been connected with the Federation movement since its inception, and acted as chairman of the committee which drafted the provisional constitution. He was the first president of the Dominion Council and Executive, and also president of the Wellington Diocesan Council. Mr. GirlingButcher is a journalist, of Anglo-Irish descent, and has spent 26 years in New Zealand. He was received into the Church in Nelson, 20 years ago, by the late Rev. Father Landour, S.M. He is a pleasant and forcible speaker, and his experience of general organising work is considerable. It is proposed that he shall visit various districts to assist in the formation and working of committees, and if our people will co-operate with him, he should make a big success of the work he has undertaken. He has now taken over the duties, and the offices of the Federation have been opened for the transaction of business. Officers and members of the Federation in other parts passing through Wellington will be welcomed if they visit the offices, 51 Lower Cuba street. All communications in future on Federa tion matters should be addressed to the new secretary at P.O. Box 958. At the last meeting of the Executive, Mr. F. X. Reeves was unanimously elected president of the Dominion Council vice Mr. Girling-Butcher, and Mr. J. J. L. Burke was elected to fill the vacancy on the Executive. The following letter, which has been addressed to the Hon. J. Allen, Minister of Education, by the Executive of the New Zealand Catholic Federation, explains itself: —• 4 New Zealand Catholic Federation, ‘P.O." Box 958, 4 Wellington, October 3. ‘Dear Sir, —I am instructed by the Executive of the New Zealand Catholic Federation to direct your attention to the fact that on the 27th ult. a lecture was delivered to. the students of Wellington College by Mr. G. W. Ray, a visitor to New Zealand, described as 'Pioneer Missionary and Government Explorer,” allegedly upon his travels in South America, in the course of which a number of false and abominable charges were made in respect to the doctrines, practices, and conduct of the Roman Catholic Church. The principal, Mr. J. P. Fifth, on being officially interviewed by myself, expressed his regret (which he asked to be conveyed to the Catholic community) at having unwittingly allowed such a lecture to be delivered: which lecture, as he admitted, was calculated to give pain and offence to the Catholic students attending the college. He further promised that in future he would allow no lecture to be delivered until he had

satisfied himself that nothing therein contained could give offence to any section of society. 4 The object of the Federation in bringing this matter under your notice is to place on record a mostemphatic protest against such pernicious lectures being allowed in institutions towards the support of which State funds are contributed, and the Federation confidently trusts that you will, in your capacity as Minister of Education, give such directions as will obviate the possibility in any part of the Dominion of the recurrence of such an offence. ‘ It appears to the Federation that the chief object of these lectures is the sale of a book published by Mr. Ray, the whole tone of which is grossly offensive, and abusive towards the Catholic Church, and the fact that Mr., Firth offered to re-purchase (with a view to destruction) all copies disposed of by Mr. Ray to college students, is a clear indication that he is at one with us as to the subject matter of this unpleasant publication, an offer which was declined. —l have, etc., ‘ Geo. Girling-Butcher, Secretary New Zealand Catholic Federation. ‘Hon. J. Allen, ‘Minister of Education.’ ' A meeting of the Catholic Immigration Committee was held at the Catholic Federation’s rooms, Lower Cuba street, on September 26. Fifteen members were present, the chair being occupied by the president. Owing to a statement made by the immigration matron that the C.I.C. had no power either to accommodate immigrant girls, nor obtain situations for them, an official meeting was held on September 23, when the matter was placed before the president/ who interviewed the chief of the Immigration Department and obtained permission for the members to carry on this work, subject to the approval of the immigration matron. The president reported that the proposed Government subsidy for hostels was so small that the idea was practically abandoned, at any rate for the present. Members reported visiting the Ruapehu, and meeting several Catholics. Miss Wheeler proposed, and Miss Burke seconded 4 That efforts be made to ensure publicity in Ireland of the fact that Catholic ladies meet immigrants in New Zealand,’ and it was decided ‘ That the Federation suggest the immigration scheme to be more widely advertised in Ireland.’ Both these proposals were carried, and the president suggested that the C.I.C. get in touch with the Irish papers. Two new members E. and F. Girling-Butcher—-were welcomed by the C.I.C. onehungaT~ (From our own correspondent.) At the monthly meeting of the local branch of the Catholic Federation arrangements were made for a further canvass for new members. It was pointed out that in proportion to the number of Catholics in the district the Onehunga branch is one of the strongest in the Dominion. The second social gathering will be held next month, when members of the Federation will meet the Hibernians in a euchre tournament;