HIS LORDSHIP BISHOP LISTON AT GISBORNE

New Zealand Tablet, 26 May 1921, Page 23

HIS LORDSHIP BISHOP LISTON AT GISBORNE

ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME ACCORDED. His Lordship Dr. Liston was accorded a , most enthusiastic welcome to Gfisborne on the occasion of his first official visit on May 8. On Monday afternoon* May 9,„ he was entertained by the pupils of St. Mary’s School at a most enjoyable concert, at the close of which he was presented with an illuminated address and a silver tea set. His Lordship thanked the pupils for their delightful entertainment and valuable gifts. He granted them a full holiday on the following day, when the annual children’s picnic was held in Mr. Con Keenan’s beautiful grounds at Ormond. In ‘the evening a most representative gathering of parishioners, numbering over four hundred, assembled in St. Mary’s School, which was very tastefully decorated by the ladies of the parish under the supervision of Mrs. Phil Barry. An excellent concert programme was submitted, all the artists being recalled. Selections were contributed by Mr. C. Woods’ orchestra, an instrumental duet by Messrs. W. Chrisp and File, and songs by Mesdames P. Barry, R. B. Hill, Miss Mona Lette, Messrs. F. Veill, Murphy, and J. Parker. The Mayor, who presided, said he had great pleasure in accepting the invitation to be present that evening. As Mayor of the city he was not bound by any denomination. He heartily welcomed Dr. Liston on behalf of the citizens of Gisborne, and congratulated him on his elevation to the high office of Bishop of the Catholic Church. Speeches of welcome were also made by Father Lane and Mr. Frank Haughie, representing the Hibernian Society. Mr. R. B. Hill (a local Catholic barrister and solicitor), in presenting Dr. Liston with an illuminated address and a cheque for a substantial amount on behalf of the Catholics of Gisborne, said that if his Lordship had come to them as a Prince of the Church he would have been welcome, but in Bishop Liston’s case there were strong personal reasons why he should be welcomed. First of all Bishop Liston was a New Zealander; secondly, he came as the representative of their beloved Bishop, Dr. Cleary; and they also welcomed him for himself alone. He was satisfied that Dr. Liston would wear the mitre with dignity. He was a man of strong intellectuality and much literary abiilty. In his great responsibilities he would not stand alone he would have the support of his priests and people. BISHOP LISTON’S REPLY. His Lordship Dr. Liston in reply returned thanks for the compliments paid him, which he thought were not quite deserved. He had come to learn. He especially appreciated the remarks of the Mayor, and assured Mr. Wildish that he thought much of them. He only wished there were many more public-spirited and broad-minded men about, such as the Mayor of Gisborne. If so, there would be harmony among all classes. Fie congratulated Mr. Wildish on his victory in the mayoralty. His Lordship said he was not inclined to come to Auckland when he first received notice. He had lived so long in the south that he did not know much about the people in the north. He was born in Dunedin and went to school there. Like other lads he indulged in the pranks common to all of that age. Later he went to college in Australia and then to Rome,, but came back to New Zealand to find he loved the country dearer than ever. Then he took up the work of teaching, and could honestly say he enjoyed those 16 years. He had good material to work on, manly boys of upright character. He was quite content to stop there, but one day he received a message that he was to come up to Auckland. For some months before his consecration he wondered how the people would take him. On the day' of the consecration Bishop Cleary told him he held the key to the hearts of the people and he would pass it on to the speaker, and he could assure them he would always endeavor to do his best for them. Continuing, Bishop Liston'said he was pleased to hear of the satisfactory condition of the Catholic schools. He n thought that in the future Catholics would secure their just rights instead of as at present being ruled by. the majority. The position was that the children did not belong to the State. The State was not their parent. Parents alone had a right to say how their children should be

educated. If the Government levied a rate on all the people then all the people should have a right to benefit by that rate. But that was-' not the case. Suppose, for instance, the State took control of food. There were certain classes ,of meat the Jews would not eat. If the State would persist in giving them this food they would refuse to eat it. That was the position of the Catholics with regard to education.* They could not accept the Government’s education and must provide their own. The speaker quoted instances of attendance at Catholic schools and said he thought that in time their cause would be. considered just. Bishop Liston then referred briefly to Ireland, and said there would be no peace in the world until that vexed problem had been solved. If Ireland wanted to choose her own form of Government let her do so. The majority of the leading politicians and journalists in England said that Ireland had a perfect right to choose her own form of Government and her own destiny. He had not noticed that fact mentioned in the newspapers, but it was true. The objection put forward was that if Ireland had her independence she would be a menace to England. To him that as all nonsense. tie was certain that if Ireland had the right to govern herself there would be a peace with England and the people of the two countries would be firm friends. • He hoped that before he came to Gisborne again, and that would not be long, the whole trouble in Ireland would be settled, and they would see the flag of liberty flying over that dear country.