METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 59, 8 March 1912, Page 6

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. The annua.! conference of the New Zealand Methodist Church w&s resumed at ten o'clock to-day. The president, the Rev. V, Ready, was in the chair. CONTINGENT FTND. ill - . Ernest Rosevear, one of the honorary ot the Contingent Fund, presented the balance-sheet of the Fund for the year ending December 31st. The statement showed that the receipts were £1.712 15/7 (including circuit levies. £1,653 17/4K and the expenditure £1.5«7 9/4, leaving a credit balance of £ 1 l.i « 3. The halance-she<»t was adopted, and it was decided that the levy this year be 7i per cent. The two retiring treasurers were re-elected. CHURCH PROPERTIES' REPORT. The annual report on Church properties, which was submitted by the Rev. S. L&wry, general secretary, stated that owing to the late arrival and incomplete condition of some of the annual property schedules, it was impossible to present a full and accurate report of Church properties for the past year. The district secretaries, in their turn, complained of the difficulty, and, in some cases, the impossibility of securing prompt and accurate returns from circuit superintendents. The resolution of last conference," requiring returns to be made of the capital value of Chnreh properties. showing the unimproved value of the land and the value of improvements, had feeea carried ont only partially. In view of the importance of having a complete return of the present value of the Church properties, including those held for Home Mission and other connexional purposes, the committee strongly urged that the recommendation of the Canterbury Synod be adopted—namely, that compiete" returns be asked for !»12, the valne of sites to be given according to Government valuation, and that of improvements to be assessed bv the trustees.

1 Appended to the report was a general summary of the current. Trust Account*, which showed:—Receipts: i Total. £34,704 18 6; credit balances i carried forward. £3.307 5/4: expenditure: Total, £35,490 I'-; debit balances, j carried forward, £4.452 14/-. J The report was adopted. CHURCH AND LABOUR. I Mr J. Gilbert, vice-president of tbp i Auckland Branch of the New Zealand ! Labour party, forwarded a comraunieation asking if the Conference would allow Professor W. T. Mills, organiser of the partv. to deliver an address to the members.' Some of the delegates objected on toe | ground that such an address would not ' be Conference business, and the business I was already much behind. Other delegates spokr- srrongiy in favour of allowing the Conference to be adi dressed by Professor Mihs. They urged that all that was possible should be. dVroe to bring the Chtirch and Labour into ' closer contact. On* speaker remarked i that the Methodist Church wa9 essenI tially the Church of the working man, and be thought that even if the Conference had to sit an extra day to hear 1 Professor Milis it should do so. One member suggested that Professor ' Mills be asked to address the Conference | on Wednesday. "I'm leaving on Tuesday i night," hj« added, naiv«y, amid considerable laughter. The Conference by a very large majority decided that Professor Mills bs invited to deliver an jddress to the dele gates at 4.30 p.m. to-day. HOME MISSION STATIONS. The first reading of the Home Mission stations was submitted as lollows: — Auckland District. —Henderson, \V. Carman; Upper Thames. C. W. Brown; Franklin, A. Layoourne; Hamilton. ■)■ Crawford; Devonport. Mogridge; North Wairoa, It. Benny; Whangarei. VV. R. Johnson: Otahuhu. H Ford; Port Albeit, C. Strand; Te Puke, one wanted: Coroaiandel, F. VV. Trevy; Heleasville, A. J. Leach: Bay of Islands, E. H. Pain; Wfiangaroa. E. H. Taylor; Mangonui. R. W. Todd; Hokianga". J. VV. Parker; Waimatta. VV. A. Porter; Te Awamutu, J. A. Lomond. Wanganai District. —New Plymouth, H. T Peat; Cap. Egraont, 'T. VV. Featherston: Wanganm F. O. Kellow: Patea. J. H. VVhit.v Kirn ooi ton. J. Oliver; Ohura. R. Hilder; North Tar.inaki. one wanted: Al.iori: Pireroa. Wirimo Tupito: Wa.iLotd.ra. Wi Kiitara; Pipiriki. Wi Wi Fuanghvswa. Wellington District.—Wellington South ilsland Bay!, one wanted; Masterton, I E T. Olds: Gnsborae. J. A. Jones: Norswood. G. Bridgman. Nelson District. —Richmond. P. Eattey: ! Blenheim, 5. Cross: Runani.'a. M. Ayrton; ' Motueka. J. Harris: Havelock, C.Aker: ] Awatere iFlaxbourne*, one wanted; Slarchison. C. H. Kendon. Canterbury District.—Addington, A. E. Haynes: St." Albans, A. H. Couch; Malvern., S. Keen: East OxronT, W. H. ! Wise: Methven. W. B. Cumraing: Mar-! field. C. Xic'uolls. Otaso District. —Orairtau, W. E. Sleep: j \jirrri'n.-p. V,". Wr-.™ : Cromwell. C.\ Duncan: Piverton. ('. C. Bottomley ; i Palmerston South, VV. T. Hooper: Win- j tr-n. C. A. Fo*ton; Tautaperp. .T. Tv?on. I .CONGRATULATION'S. A wa* read from the T.ev. Geo. Lindsay. Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, congratulating the Con- I ferenee on its strong vote for union.