METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 25, 6 March 1914, Page 9

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

A HEAVY DAY. YESTERDAY'S SITTINGS. Prets Astodation. DUNEDIN, March 5. At the Methodist Conference to-day the following resolution was passed: — "That the Rev. W. Slade be the representative of the Conference the British Wesleyan Methodist, British Primitive Methodist, and British United Methodist and also to the Irish Methodist Conferences." It was also resolved: —"That the Rev. S. Griffith be associated with the Rev. W. Slade as representative to the British Wesleyan Methodist Conference and receive .special letters of communication to that body." The conference resolved that the offi* cials and members of various circuits should be urged td make such arrangements as would enable various ministers to have at least two weeks' rest in each year. HOME MISSIONS.

Mr J. Veale, treasurer, presented the report of the Home Mission Committee, which stated that much difficulty had to be faced in the early part of the year through the lack of suitable men to fill home mission stations. It had been found impossible to secure an adequate supply of unmarried men, and several important places were vacant in consequence. Had it been possible on these stations to make provision for the support of married men, the difficulties would have vanished, as the church had to decline dozens of applications from such men. The statement showed the income of districts as follows: —Auckland £1221 13/8, South Auckland £202 7/6, Taranaki-Wanga'nui £346 6/2, Jlawke's Bay-Manawatu £389 16/4, Wellington £366 2/5, Nelson £209 3/9, Canterbury £661 5/4, South Canterbury £302 18/9, Otago £276 3/1, Southland £2Ol 1/6; —total of districts, £4156 18/6. The income from other sources, connexional properties, interest on investments, etc., _ made £1704 17/4, and total income amounted to £5861 15/10. The estimate of the total income for next year was £5982, and the estimated expenditure was £5923 14/-, leaving a balance of £SB 6/- to be carried forawrd. The president said he thought it a unique experience to have the Home Mission Fund with a credit balance. Mr Yeale replied that there was something to be said by way of explanation. The conference sat last year about a month earlier than usual, and about £3OO of the income would in the ordinary way have been included in last year's statement. There was about £BO

more from connexional properties than had been expected, owing to the lightness of expenditure and certain grants not being expended, and there was £123 of donations which could not be'calculated on. There had never before been a statement of the capital account of the Home Mission Fund. It now stood at £6288 10/-, and there was £6OO odd awaiting investment in Auckland. Most of the money was invested in splendid mortgages on properties, some bearing as high a rate of interest as 6J per cent., and he thought it safe to say that the average rate Of interest was 5-J per cent. The money awaiting investment in Auckland was not wholly unproductive, because it stood against the overdraft, and -saved about \ per cent. As to the expenditure for the current year, the total grants asked for came to £6214 4/-, and the adjustment of the committee brought this down to £5923 14/-. Many of tlie items were made subjects of debate, it was agreed on the motion of the conference secretary that, the disputed items be set down and handed to the committee, with suggestions which might be reported upon. This afternoon consideration of Home Mission matters was resumed. It was resolved that the treasurers of" the fund be ex-officio members of the conference. It was decided that Maori agents should be urged to secure more support of the work ; by the Native people. The conference deprecated establishing a separate fund for Maori work. Thanks were tendered to the Rev. T. G. Brooke, organising secretary of Home Missions, and Mr J. Veale, treasurer, and both were unanimously reappointed. The matter of equipping a gospel van was referred to the executive for favourable consideration. * A committee was appointed to consider the establishment of a Home Missionaries' Provident Fund. WORK AMONGST MAORIS. " A life honorarium of £SO per annum was granted to the Rev. W. Gittos, of Auckland, late superintendent of Maori Missions. The continuance and development of the Maori Deaconesses' Home at Okaiawa, Taranaki, was referred to the Executive Committee. A special committee was appointed to supervise the work of the West Coast Maori Mission. A policy of extension regarding the Native work in Waikato was presented, and was cordially approved. It was resolved to appoint a probationer to Taumarunui, with a grant of £IOO, a saddlebag missionary for Taranaki if a suitable agent is available, and a home missionary at TJruti. An appeal was made to circuits to increase the income to enable the committee to prosecute a more vigorous policy of extension, and it was resolved to issue an annual Home Mission leaflet for general distribution. The Rev. T. G. Hammond was appointed a deputation for the Wellington district for 1914, and the Rev. N. H. Papakura a deputation for South Canterbury if available. FOREIGN MISSIONS REPORT. The Foreign Missions report was adopted. It was resolved that no organising secretary for the Dominion be appointed pending a decision as to New Zealand's special sphere of Foreign

Mission activity. Organising secretaries, however, were appointed for each of the 10 districts of the Dominion. Resolutions were adopted with a view to ensuring increased interest in Foreign Mission. A resolution was approved relating to the union of the Methodist churches of Tonga and the union of those churches with the New Zealand Methodist Church. The Bev. J. N. Buttle, secretary for Foreign Mission, was cordially thanked for his work during his II years of service, and many members bore testimony to the worth of his work. Beep regret was expressed at his retirement owing to failing health. The report of the New Zealand members of the Board of Missions was received. It dealt with finance and with staffing, administration,, and organisation in the South Sea mission field, as well as in India. N It also offered three alternative suggestions of a separate field for Foreign Mission work. The proposals were:—(l) Fiji, including Indian work; (2) Indian work in Fiji; (3) Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Samoa, The matter will ibe considered by a special committee during the year, and a report will be presented to the Conference of 1915. The third suggestion will probably be adopted ultimately, because (a) it is within the financial compass of the Church, (b) the necessary staff would be' available, (c) the virgin character of the work in the Solomons would arouse enthusiasm, and (d) Tonga and Samoa could be relied upon as old fields to assist in providing both men and money for newer areas. Representatives to the next meeting of--the Board were appointed. GENERAL.

A deputation from the Council of Churches waited upon the conference, and the Rev. G. Heighway Conveyed greetings. The Rev. J. Guy and the Hon. C. M. Luke responded on behalf of the conference. Unofficial intimation was received of a bequest by Mr Collison, of Hastings, of £IOOO to various purposes of the church. It was resolved that an effort be made to secure from the Victorian Conference a visit to New Zealand from the Rev. Valmont Trigge in 1915. The conference agreed to forego the grant of £IOO from the Foreign Mission Board in Sydney, due on account of the transfer of the Rev. W. W. Avery to New Zealand. This action, however, is not to be regarded as a precedent. A special committee was set up in regard to the Probert Trust and the Alexandra Street trustees, to effect an adjustment of matters in which these two bodies are concerned. The Book of Laws Revision Committee presented a report, and certain amendment suggested were agreed to and a number of verbal alterations were approved. The Book of Laws as altered and amended was approved, and a resolution was adopted accepting it as legally adopted by the conference. A committee was set up to publish it and to incorporate any amendments adopted by the conference.