GENEROUS OFFER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 171, 21 July 1936, Page 5

GENEROUS OFFER.

VICAR OF PAPAKURA

BACK DEBTS OF PARISH

HOSPITAL BOARD CHAIRMAN

There was a large attendance at the annual meeting of parishioners of Christ Church, Papakura, last evening, when the vicar, the Rev. W. L. Wood, made a striking statement concerning his position as both vicar of Papakura an:l chairman of the Auckland Hospital Board.

After detailing the financial state of the parish and showing that the district was in debt to the extent of £300, Sir. Wood said he had discussed his own standing with the vestry and also with the church authorities of the diocese. He had, lie said, spent over a quarter of a century as their vicar and lie felt the time was not far distant when the painter would have to be cut, but he did not want to hand over to his successor until the parish was free of debt.

The chairmanship of the Hospital Board, said Mr. Wood, carried with it a salary of £250 per year, and the appointment was for two years. He offered to accept £150 a year from the parish during that time, provided the whole of his stipend was raised by the parish. The stipend under the regulations was £300 and travelling expenses, so that the £150 lie would not receive would be spent in paying off the back debts. Also, he would not ask for any travelling expenses, which ran to £75 yearly.

"I "feel," said Mr. Wood, "that I am doing tlu» work of Christ and the Church every bit as much on the Hospital Board as when in the parish. I am called upon every day to help needy cases. The position has been further complicated by the standing committee of the diocese laying down an ultimatum that I must not accept less than the regulation £300 stipend and expenses. In other words, I have to choose between my position at Papakura and the chairmanship of the Hospital Board. I would like to remind you that the stipend has not been met for a number of years, and as far as the back salary is concerned, I have forgotten it. " Now," concluded Mr. Wood with feeling, "I am leaving myself in your hands. I want the parishioners ito decide. That is the position.' (Applause.) Mr. D. Graham, the vicar;s warden, then read the resolution of the vestry, as follows: —"That in view of the financial position of the parish, involving as it does an indebtness of £300 and the vicar's offer, we urge the parishioners to agree to the offer." Mr .T Rea said that it was unfortunate that Mr. Wood had been forced to make the statement he had done, remembering that for over 25 years he had lived among them. In the face of all that, the vicar had been asked to give up a work which he had been doing for humanity. Mr. Wood's offer meant a gift of £500 to the parish. Had not the parishioners, he asked, some rights against those of the standing committee ? In answer to a question, Mr. Wood said the standing committee had no control over his activities on the Hospital Board. All they were concerned about was the stipend question.

The parishioners finally decided to support the vestry unanimously, and appointed a deputation to wait upon the Archbishop and the standing committee to represent the views of the parish.

A letter from the townspeople of Papakura congratulated the vicar upon his work in the district and on the Hospital Board.

A resolution of thanks to the vicar for his offer was carried by acclamation.