H.A.C.B. SOCIETY

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLIII, Issue 18, 4 May 1916, Page 19

H.A.C.B. SOCIETY

DISTRICT CONFERENCE.

.. (From our Auckland correspondent. - The thirtieth annual meeting - of f the New Zealand Hibernian Society ' was opened at the . Hibernian Hall, /Wellington street, Auckland, Jbn Tuesday morning, April - 25, at jlO o’clock. . The Very .Rev.. Chancellor Holbrook, vice-president, in the absence of the district president, Bro. J. P. Smith, : who . was ; indisposed, presided. “ There were present:. Very Rev. 1 Dean Van (Dargaville), • Very Rev .* Father Cahill, - Rev. Fathers Murphy , and Taylor, . and Rev. Brother Calixtus;, and , the following direct representatives: ; Bros. P. J. Duggan, Oamaru; Deere, Greymouth; Murphy, Westport;'Gallagher, Nelson; J. J. L. Burke, P. D. Hoskins, J. P. McGowan, Branch 95, Wellington; T. Murphy, Wellington South; M. J. McGahey, Wellington North; B. Chapman, Masterton; H. McKeowen, Pahiatua; M. Grimes,. Christchurch; A. J. Woodley and Dufferin, Auckland M. Walsh, Wellington Female Curry, Blenheim; Ryan, Waihi; McCarten, Onehunga; P. Cunningham, Napier. Members from the Auckland branches acted as proxies for the branches unable to send delegates. The balance sheet and report disclosed very satisfactory .results, both in regard to membership” and finance. A sum of £4OO was paid in- funeral allowances for the halfyear, while the funeral fund showed a credit balance of £13,130 18s 10d; r the supplementary sick fund, established under three years ago, had a -balance of £1376 4s. Some 250 members who were serving with the Expeditionary Forces were being kept financial, their contributions being E aid out of the District Guarantee Fund, but as the numers were increasing the . fund could not stand the strain, and : a committee, consisting of . the district' executive, with Bros. P. D. Hoskins, Curry, A. J. Woodley, Murphy, O’Sullivan, Duggan, P. Cunningham, and M. Grimes, was appointed to consider the best means of dealing with the matter, and to report to the general meeting later. The conference adjourned at 1 p.m. for the purpose of observing Anzac Day. Members attended the i service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in regalia. ' The conference resumed again in the afternoon, and many important matters were discussed. The motions put forward by the district executive and the members for the Wellington branches after considerable discussion were lost. A motion of sympathy with Bro. J. J. O’Brien in his recent illness was carried. • The conference adjourned at 11 p.m. until next morning. - ' On Wednesday the conference resumed, and worked most assiduously until 1 p.m., after which it adjourned until 7 p.m. . ' . V The remaining 24 amendments to the rules moved by the Wellington delegate occupied most of the business. The last one consisted of a demand that the district executive should defray the travelling expenses of the visiting delegates. ’ A compromise was effected by the executive agreeing tor> pay only locomotion expenses. . . The suggestion 'to abolish the half-yearly meetings was vigorously debated, hut it was ultimately , decided to retain them. ; . . - s The funeral fund showed a credit balance of £13,130 18s. lOd, after £4OO had been paid in funeral allowances during the past year to the branches. - The supplementary sick fund, though in existence but scarcely three years, showed a credit balance of £1376 4s. It was sought to reduce the contribution to this fund from Id per week per member to 6d per' quarter, but the motion was defeated., 1 v - ' . ’ ■ / . Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook moved —* That owing to the growth of the Society, and consequently the large amount of work devolving on the district secretary through having to deal with increasing funds, that he receive a salary of £l5O/ The Wellington delegate, as an amendment, moved ‘ That the. secretary’s salary ,be £250.’ The motion was withdrawn in favor of the amendment. A further amendment by. the Leeston ✓ delegate that it be £350 was lost, and the motion that the salary be £250 was carried. . •' / The following officers for the ensuing term were elected -.—Very Rev Chancellor Bro. Holbrook, district president; Bro. E. J. Higgins, district vice-president ; Bro. Wm. Kane, district secretary:- Bro. M. J. Sheahan, district treasurer; Bros. F. J. O’Meara and J. ,B. R.-Stead, district auditors. The . newly-elected - officers returned thanks. Before the meeting dispersed the wish was expressed that" the district president would visit: Melbourne next- month to attend the' biennial meeting of the "several districts of the Australasian . group. ■ ~ r ‘ r.’ /;■