HIBERNIAN SOCIETY, DUNEDIN

New Zealand Tablet, 1 April 1920, Page 28

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY, DUNEDIN

- WELCOME TO DISTRICT PRESIDENT. ’ At a representative gathering of the members of St. Joseph’s and St. Patrick’s branches of the Hibernian Society, Dunedin, held in St. Joseph’s Hall on Monday evening, Bro. T. Kelly, District President, of Auckland, who was just completing a visit to the South Island, was tendered a very cordial reception. Bro. W. Carr, president of St. Joseph’s branch, presided, and in welcoming the District President to Dunedin, said that unlike other officers of the society it had not yet been . his . experience to attend any of the important meetings and thus meet the executive officers. In this connection, however, two of the local brothers had for many years past attended such meetings and accomplished successful work. It was his (the speaker’s) pleasant duty that night, on behalf of the local brothers, to offer a sincere fraternal welcome to Bro. Kelly, the chief executive officer of the society in New Zealand. The members of the executive in Auckland were acknowledged to be true Hibernians and true Irishmen, bearers of important offices who deserved credit for the magnificent way they had managed the affairs of the society and kept the branches together. He would ask Bro. Kelly to assure the executive that Hibernianism was not by any means dormant in Dunedin, and to acquaint his fellow-officers of the fact that the members of the society here were loyal to them. Bro. O’Connor, secretary of St. Joseph’s branch, said he desired to join with the president in extending a hearty .welcome to Bro. Kelly. Although at one time favorable to the proposition of removing the District Executive to Wellington so as to centralise the affairs of the society, he had now changed his opinion in this regard, and would not now favor such a move. The executive at Auckland had guarded the interests of the society well, and to his mind little or no fault could be found with its administration. He was not sufficiently conversant with the suggestion to substitute district vice-presidents for district deputies, but he would take the opportunity of placing on record the fact that their local district deputy, who had held office for many years, had done, and was doing, his duty well and conscientiously. More frequent visits of the executive officers were, in his opinion, desirable, as were also the more important general meetings being held at centres more accessible to the average member, where an interchange of views would prove beneficial. He hoped (he said in conclusion) that the visit of the district president to Dunedin would prove enjoyable. Bro. Leo Marlow, president of St. Patrick's branch, tendered a hearty welcome on behalf of his members to Bro. Kelly. The South Dunedin branch had been formed since the previous visit of executive officers, and he hoped such visits would be more frequent in future, as they were conducive to the solidifying of branches and to the extension of the society. - Bro. J. J. Marlow, District Deputy for Otago and Southland, in adding a few words of welcome to the guest of the evening, spoke interestingly of Hibernian affairs. He had, during his period of office, assisted at the opening of more than half of the existing branches in the district, including the re-establishment of the branch at Invercargill. It was now about twenty years since Dunedin had been favored by a visit of executive officers, f-yicb visits he thought should bo more frequent, as they would do much to improve the standing of the society. “ Under existing conditions the only opportunity branches had of properly discussing matters was at triennial meetings. He certainly favored the idea of holding annual or triennial meetings at some central place, and hoped the district executive would endeavor to bring this about. The war had been a serious handicap to theirs, in common with all other societies, and branches were greatly indebted to the district executive for looking after and managing the affairs of brothers on active service. Every effort should be made to enrol our Catholic young men in their, own society, and for this purpose no important meeting, whether annual or triennial, must be allowed to lapse or be deferred. Wo must be alive . to * our own interests and to those of our young men, to prevent so many drifting -into other friendly societies; Bro. Kellv very sincerely thanked thy Hibernians of Dunedin for the warm welcome extended to him, which he took as a compliment to his fellow-officers -of the executive. ;• It was (lie said) particularly gratifying to hear expressed such a favorable opinion of the executive. They were doing everything possible in regard, to the society’s finances. The funds were all soundly invested, and steadily advancing, and if the executive officers were left alone to carry on in the , future as in the past the prosperity

of ; the society, would increase.. It was understood a triennial meeting would be held, next year at Christchurch, and this would meet the wishes of the South Island branches. He invited suggestions to be considered at that meeting, where all matters would be given full discussion. He deeply appreciated the action of the Dunedin Hibernians in determining to support the retention of the executive at Auckland. The ■ idea of substituting district vice-president for district deputies in the four centres would, if adopted, give power to such officials to report direct to the executive as they would have seats on - the board. As an indication of.' the satisfaction, felt in the existing conditions in connection with the society no response was made to Bro. Kelly’s invitation to put forward questions. Incidentally Bro. Kelly referred to the delegation of two of the executive officers to the recent Irish Race Convention at Melbourne, the reception accorded them there, and to their privilege of meeting his Grace Archbishop Mannix. The Very Rev. Father Coffey, Adm. (branch chaplain), later attended the gathering and joined in the welcome to Bro. Kelly.