CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 18 May 1916, Page 23

CATHOLIC FEDERATION

DOMINION EXECUTIVE.

(From our Wellington correspondent.)

In the advertising columns of the N.Z. Tablet there appears an appeal from the Dominion Executive of the Catholic Federation for donations for the establishment of a Field Service Fund, the object of the fund being to place sums of money at the disposal of the Catholic chaplains at the front and at hospitals for the purpose of procuring comforts for Catholic soldiers under their care. The necessity for such a fund was brought before the Dominion Council at its last session, and it was unanimously decided by all of the delegates present to refer the matter to the Dominion Executive for immediate action. Patriotic societies, trustees of patriotic funds, diocesan councils, and parish committees have been circularised to assist in this worthy object. The co-operation of Catholics is now urgently sought. It is very well known that Catholics are and have been large contributors to the various patriotic funds, and now that the Federation has inaugurated a fund which will be administered by the Dominion Executive it is to be hoped that Catholics

will divert their contributions to the Catholic Field Service Fund, thereby assisting materially their brave co-religionists fighting for the Empire's cause. A separate fund will be kept 5 and a, true account of the receipts and disbursements will be published in the columns of the Tablet from time to time. All donations should be sent to the Kev. Father Hurley, S.M., Adm., Dominion treasurer of the Catholic Federation, Patterson street, Wellington, who will gratefully acknowledge all donations.

The Executive met last Wednesday evening, Mr J. J. L. Burke presiding. The Rev. Father P. J. Smyth, S.M., Adm., who took his seat for the first time, was welcomed by the chairman. The Rev. Brother Egbert was appointed to the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. B. Ellis. It was decided to write to the Minister of Internal Affairs asking him to state what action the Government intended taking in connection with the film censorship. Final arrangements in connection with the establishment of the Catholic field service fund were made. The question of bringing the work of the Federation under the notice of the Catholics of New Zealand was referred to the press committee for action. Mr. Hoskins, the Federation's representative on the Trentham entertainment committee, reported that the committee had now a system of providing motor cars for entertainments at the various denominational halls, and that cars for one concert per week at the Catholic hall would be provided. An important letter from' Mr. W. P. Mara, secretary of the Westminster Catholic Federation, was read. It gave an account of the arrangements made with the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London for the distribution of clothes and money to the Catholic necessitous poor in England suffering from the effects of the present war.

CHRISTCHURCH DIOCESAN COUNCIL.

(From an occasional correspondent.)

The usual monthly meeting of the executive of the Christchurch Diocesan Council was held on Tuesday, the 9th inst., at which were present— Rev. Dean Hyland (president), Messrs. W. Hayward, jun., M. Garty, E. J. P. Wall, J. E. Doolan, T. H. C. Williamson, and R. Dobbin (hon. secretary). Apologies for absence were received from Very Rev. Dean Regnault and Mr. J. R. Hayward. A considerable amount of business was transacted, including arrangements for the completion of the lease of the Girls' Hostel and for the revision of the new school history about to be published by Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs. With regard to the latter, the nomination by his Lordship the Bishop of Sister Domitelle, as representing the convent schools, and of Brother Palladius on behalf of the boys' schools, was considered to be a full guarantee that the work of revision would be efficiently carried out. The secretary announced that, in response to a circular recently issued to all parish committees, reports and remittances from the various centres were beginning to come in with, on the whole, satisfactory results. A letter was received from the secretary of the Akaroa parish committee, intimating that Sunday, the ,21st inst., was to be celebrated atAkaroa as Federation Sunday, when the members of the Federation would receive Holy Communion and afterwards hold a breakfast in the schoolroom, and inviting the executive of the Diocesan Council to send one or more representatives on the occasion. This

invitation was cordially accepted, and Messrs. W. Hayward, jun., and J. E. Doolan were appointed representatives.. The question of the establishment of a Catholic field service fund was considered at some, length, and the secretary was instructed to make certain necessary inquiries in reference to the matter, and report to the-next meeting. ' An important communication was received from the Timaru committee, referring to the suggested establishment of a sub-diocesan council for South Canterbury and also to the recent regrettable resignation of Dr. Loughnan. Both these subjects received most careful consideration from the executive, and the secretary was directed to notify the Timaru committee that his Lordship the Bishop proposed in due course to go into the whole question of sub-diocesan councils, and in reference to Dr. Loughnan's resignation, to say that «o stone would be left unturned to effect a satisfactory solution of this difficulty.