CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 20 August 1914, Page 35

CATHOLIC FEDERATION

WELLINGTON.

The Dominion Executive met on Tuesday, August 11, Mr, J. J. L. Burke presiding. A large Amount of ioutine business was dealt with. The Secretary reported that a sufficient supply of assorted literature had been procured for the_jise of the Advance Guard, and had been forwarded to the care of the chaplain, Rev. Father Segrief. The Federation office had been offered as a depot for the receipt of comforts for Catholics going with the Expeditionary Force. It was decided that certain branches which had requested the executive to give practical and monetary aid' to the war fund should be informed that the constitution of the Federation did not provide, for such action ; that while doing all possible to encourage members to be loyal citizens, ihe executive had not power to use the very limited funds at their, disposal 7 for such a purpose. In reply to an application for a ruling from a branch committee it was decided that all persons elected as members of a parish committee must be members of the Federation resident in the parish for which they act in such capacity. - •’ . , y-

The following questions were handed in by the organising secretary to the chairman of the Education Committee on the 14th inst:

Questions handed in by the Organising Secretary of the Catholic Federation to the Education Committee of the House of, Parliament, August 14 1914. 7'..vv .... ' ' ' ’

1. Can any assurance be given. to the parties opposing the Bible-in-Schools Referendum Bill as to the course of procedure intended to be pursued by the-com-mittee in regard to examination and cross-examination of witnesses? 7- r ‘

2. In view of the fact that witnesses are resident in various parts of New Christchurch ; and Auckland the committee direct that ample and sufficient notice be given of the date of resumption of proceedings in regard to the petitions ' ; .j 3. In view of Canon Garland’s letter, withdrawing from participation, can an assurance be given by the committee that no further steps will be taken in regard to the petitions during the present session ? ;'•« ■‘gtyn

A reply was received from the acting-chairman as. follows: 7 ■ - 1 yv >’■<’ ~ • : v^n... ; 7 ;>

Education Committee, . , _ Parliament Buildings, Wellington. Gee. Girling-Butcher, Esq., -Organising Secretary N.Z. Catholic Federation, . Wellington. \ Sir, —It is the intention of. the above committee to continue the taking of evidence relative to the prayers of the petitions received herein, but will not do so without giving ample notice of the date of such hearing. Any further information required concerning procedure in regard to examination, cross-examination, etc., of witnesses will be given when the. conjmittee resumes taking evidence. * *’ , 1

Yours faithfully,

(Signed) J. A. Hanan,

Acting-Chairman.

AUCKLAND DIOCESAN COUNCIL.

The diocesan committee held its first meeting of the year, since the annual meeting, in the Federation office on Monday evening, August 10. The president (Mr. B. McLaughlin) presided. A large quantity of correspondence was placed before the meeting by the secretary. Many applications have been received, since the last meeting, in connection with the Federation employment bureau, and it would seem that our country branches were now making much use of this assistance. A letter was received from the Rev. Father Schoonhof, president of the Rotorua branch, reporting that ho had established another branch in Mamaku.

The Dominion Executive wrote, with regard to action taken with a certain large firm in the Dominion, which was reported to be engaged in distributing objectionable and indecent literature. • A further communication was received from the executive requesting that electoral committees be set up in each electorate for the purpose of seeing that all our Catholic people are on the rolls. It was decided that the secretary write all branches in regard to this matter. The diocesan secretary reported having received particulars of a certain alleged objectionable publication in one of the city libraries. The committee decided to take the necessary action after the president had reported to the next meeting. Federation matters in Auckland diocese are generally -in. a, very satisfactory’ condition.’ At the last Dominion Council greeting it was found that Auckland is tire second best diocese in the Dominion, being only as. far as finance «is . concerned, two shillings below Wellington. . Some of our country clergy are frequently communicating with the committee, and are pushing ahead very, vigorously, with our organisation, seconding the desire and wish of our esteemed Bishop.