METHODISM

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 55, 6 March 1914, Page 10

METHODISM

THE DOMINION CONFERENCE REST FOR MINISTERS. (II TELIOIUPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, "sth March. *At the Methodist Conference to-day the following resolution was passed :—: — "That the Rev. W. Slade be the representative of the conference to the British Wesleyan Methodist, the British Primitive Methodist} and tin* British United Methodist, Conferences, and also to the Irish Methodist Conferences.' 1 It was 'also resolved that the Rev. S. Griffith be associated with the Rev. Slade as representative to the British Wesleyan Methodist Conference aud receive special letters of communication to that body. j It was resolved that the officials and members of t4ie various circuits be urged to make such arrangements as will enable the various ministers to have at least two weeks' rest in each year*. Mr. J. Veale, the treasurer, presented a'report of the Home Mission Committee, which stated that much difficulty had to be faced in the early part of the year through 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 are vacant in consequence. Had it been possible on these stations to make provision for the , support of married men, difficulties would have vanished, as they had to decline a dozen applications from such men. Financial statements showed the income by districts to be as follows :—Auckland £1221 13s Bd, South Auckland £202 7s 6d. Taranaki and Wanganui £346 6s 2d, Hawkes Bay and Manawatu £389 16s 4d, Wellington £366 2s 6d, Nelson £209 3s 9d, Canterbury £661 5s 4d. South Canterbury £302 18s 9d, Otago £276 3s Id, and Southland £201 Is 6d, making a total of £4156 18s 6d. The income from other sources (connexional properties, interest on investments, etc.) was £1704 17s 4d, making a total income of £5861 15s lOd. The estimate of the total income for next year was £5982 and the estimated expenditure was £5923 14s, giving a balance of £58 6s to be carried forward. The President said he thought it was a unique experience to have the home mission fund 'with a credit balance. Mr. Veale 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 £300 of the income would in the ordinary way have been in. eluded in last year's statement. There was^abput £80 more from the conneiaonaP'properties than had been expected owing to lightness of expenditure and certain grants liad not been expended, and there was £123 of a donation which could not- be calculated on. There had never before been a statement of the capital account of tho home mission fund. Il now stood at £6288 10s, and there was £600 odd awaiting investment in Auckland. Most of the money was invested in splendid mortgages on properties, some bearing as high rate of interest as 6£ per cent., and he thought it safe to say that the average rate of interest was 5£ pel cent. The money awaiting investment in Auckland was not wholly unproductive, because ifc stood against overdraft and saved about 1 per cent. As to the expenditure for the current year the total grants asked for came to £6214 4s, and the adjustment of the committee brought this down to £5923 14s. Many of the items were made the subject of debate, and it was agreed, on the motion of the conference secretary, that disputed items be set down and handed to the committee, together with suggestions, and they might be reported upon late* in the day. A deputation from the Council of Churches extended greetings to the conference.