I would like to offer some thoughts in response to the article published last week by a self-appointed inspector of Catholic Truth Society (C.T.S.) boxes, who recently visited Limerick. While I respect his intention to ensure the smooth operation of these boxes, I feel compelled to provide a few clarifications regarding his observations.
Had the inspector merely presented factual information without drawing inferences and making comparisons, I might not have found it necessary to respond, especially considering he chose to write under a pseudonym. However, his chosen pseudonym offers little disguise, at least from my perspective. I should note that if he had discussed the matter with me during our conversation on the Sunday of our recent Féis (which I assume is the Sunday in question), I would have provided the following explanation, at least concerning our church’s handling of C.T.S. publications.
As I noticed our stock running low, I placed an order for twenty-four dozen copies of C.T.S. publications with the Dublin office the previous Tuesday. In my experience, orders have consistently been filled promptly. I had expected this order to arrive by Friday at the latest—specifically, the Friday prior to this unexpected visit. However, the order did not arrive until Tuesday. I believe the delay may have been caused by issues with the railway company.
I have been responsible for the C.T.S. box for approximately six months, during which time I have distributed nearly 2,000 booklets. As a general practice, I visit the box daily and strive to ensure it remains well stocked. While I appreciate the critic’s input, I believe it is impractical to attempt to fit twenty dozen booklets into the box. Many individuals who may not purchase the books still take them out briefly and return them haphazardly. If the box were consistently packed to its limit, people would often cram the booklets in, causing them to become soiled and dog-eared. Such books do not sell, as individuals are unlikely to pay even a penny for books in poor condition.
To address this issue, I have found it more effective to maintain between three and six copies of each booklet in each compartment and frequently replenish them. This way, the books remain in good condition and are consistently saleable. In fact, the box I oversee has more than covered its initial cost.
Additionally, I believe it is worth noting that there seems to be a limited appetite among the public for overtly Irish-themed publications. While such publications are available, they do not sell well. Unfortunately, the overall selection of C.T.S. publications, both Irish and otherwise, is quite limited. As a result, people may grow tired of seeing the same books repeatedly in the boxes.
I hold a great deal of respect for the critic and believe he plays a crucial role in the Irish-Ireland movement. With his writing skills and renowned research abilities, I hope he will consider contributing to our collection of valuable C.T.S. publications in the future.
Sincerely,
J. A. O’CONNOR
Dublin Leader – Saturday 23 June 1906
