COUNTRY CLERGY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 7, 8 July 1909, Page 3

COUNTRY CLERGY.

THEIR MEAGRE STIPENDS. {BY TELEGRAPH — SPECIAL TO THE POST.] AUCKLAND, This Day. The complaints as to -the riieagre stipends of country clergy, which were made by Bishop Wallis in his charge to the Wellington Diocesan Synod, were at one time frequently heVird in Auckland. Bishop Neligan, shortly after taking charge of the diocese, some six years ago, commented on the fact that many of the clergy were receiving an altogether inadequate remuneration for their labours,, and ho announced hif intention of making no further appointments to parochial districts at lower stipends than j £200 a year. This, minimum has since | been adhered to, and the position has, to that extent, been improved. In order to obviate the irregularity in the payment of stipends which sometimes occurs in the country districts, a *>ustentaftion fund has been inaugurated for the Auck- j land diocese, and this is being contributed to by the various parishes on a proportional system of asseffrinsnt. When tho fund is large enough, the stipends roll probably be paid, direct from it, thus obviating the financial inconvenience to which clergymen are (sometimes subjected through the irregular payment, as well as the loss of dignity involved by the occasional necessity of the parochial authorities having to be reminded by their minister of "that little matter" of arrears in his salary which in so many cases is urgently needed at the end of each month to satisfy the claims of this butcher or the baker. z There are at present several of the clergy taking part in the home mission, work receiving stipends of no more than £150 a year, with an extra allowance of about £25 for expenses. Most of thete ir.en, however, are unmarried, and as their salaries are paid regularly from the central fund they are not dependent upon the fluctuations of local church finance.