N.Z. CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 5 February 1920, Page 39

N.Z. CATHOLIC FEDERATION

f WELLINGTON DIOCESAN COUNCIL. I |" The following is the report of the Executive Committee for the half-year ended December 31, 1919: Your . executive has the honor.to present its fourteenth half-yearly report, being that for the period ended December 31, 1919. - The monthly meetings have been regularly held, and the monthly Bulletin has given all possible information to parish committees. The executive is pleased to report that the past half-year's receipts exceed all previous records, notwithstanding the fact that important committees have not yet made any remittance on account of the current financial year. The increase in receipts on account of membership over that of the similar period of last year amounts to £37 5s 2d, and it is confidently expected that when the accounts are closed for the year on June 30 next, they will show a substantial increase over the figures for last year. Further reference to this matter will be found in the treasurer's report. Federation Scholarships. Considerable difficulty was experienced with reference to the examinations for.-the Federation Scholarships. At the instance of the Dominion Executive, a conference was held in Wellington of rectors and head masters of Catholic secondary schools throughout the Dominion, for the purpose of instituting a uniform examination paper for all scholarships tenable at those schools and colleges, and it was agreed that the Junior National Scholarships examination, with a special examination in Christian Doctrine, should be adopted. Subsequently the Dominion Executive notified Diocesan Councils that each council was free to make any alteration in the examinations, but as it was then too late to make further arrangements, the original proposal was adhered to. The number of entrants for the scholarships is disappointingly small. Notice of the conditions was given in Bulletin 32, September 15, which made it clear that the entries closed on October 31, and committees were urged to make the conditions as widely known as possible. Several entries were received after the date mentioned, but in justice to those who complied with the conditions, they could not be entertained. The examination in Christian Doctrine has been held and the marks awarded. These with the marks in the Junior National Scholarships list will be added, and the highest aggregate will be awarded the scholarships. Dominion Council. —The resolutions sent forward to the last meeting by this council received full consideration, and were disposed of as follows: — (1) Field Service Fund: The question of allocating the balance of the fund was held over, in view of the requirements of the convalescent camps, etc. (2) Military training camps: The protest against the establishment of four-months' training camps was deferred until the final proposals of the Government are made known. (3) The proposal that the Catholic authorities should be given control of all Catholic children maintained by the Education Department, was referred to the Dominion Executive for enquiry and report. It was also resolved that the Dominion Executive undertake the distribution of suitable propaganda literature, and that the Bulletin of the Dominion Council be proceeded with forthwith. Your executive is pleased to learn that there is ,a. prospect of that Bulletin being published almost immediately. Your executive desires to place on record its appreciation of the fact that one of its representatives on the Dominion Council —the Very Rev. Father O'Conriell, S.M. —has been elected to the high and responsible office of president of the New Zealand Catholic Federation; and that the Very Rev. president and Mr. P. D. Hoskins — former member of the Diocesan Executive —

were elected to represent the Federation at the recent Irish Race Convention at Melbourne. ': Catholic Women's Hostel.—The long-promised additions to the hostel are near completion, and will supply a much-needed and welcome relief in many ways. Your executive has given the board of management every assistance in raising the necessary funds for the completion of the work, and suggests that the question of making a grant to the fund be considered at the council meeting. The building fund now stands at about £llOO, leaving £9OO yet to be raised. The executive returns its thanks to the parish committees which have responded to the appeals sent out by the Bulletin. The council was represented on the board by Major Halpin. and Mr. J. A. Scott, both of whom retire "from office at the end of the current month. | Conclusion.ln conclusion, your executive desires to thank all officers and members for their, loyal and consistent support of a movement which can only be regarded as patriotic in the highest sense of the word. It stands for all that is good and noble in national and civic life, and* does not interfere in any way with the religious convictions of any person. It calls upon its membersin these'days- of. blatant paganism—to devote their energies

to the cause of true; Christianity and charity. The Federation has never at any time departed from the principles laid down in its motto, "In things .doubtful— in things essentialunity; in all things—charity." The present is no time for Catholic j men"and women to walk the earth apologising for their existence, or if or them to fear the enmity of those who fail to understand the, first principles of our holy religion. This phase of persecution is not common to New Zealand, it exists all over the world but the fact remains, that while great empires have fallen, Pope Benedict still sits upon the throne of St. Peter, the living representative of the one sovereignty that has lasted longer than any dynasty in the world to-day, and which we are assured will last until the end of time.

The report was signed on behalf of the committee by Rev. Father Hurley, S.M. (president), and Mr. W. ,F. Johnson (hon. secretary).