METHODIST CHURCH

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20184, 29 February 1940, Page 14

METHODIST CHURCH

SUPERNUMERARY FUND SECURITY ACT EFFECTS CONFERENCE DISCUSSION (Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, this day. The annual conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand sat Cor the sixth day yesterday, the president, the Rev. L. B. Neale, occupying the chair. Reporting upon the supernumerary fund, the managing treasurer, the Rev. M. A. Rugby Pratt, referred to the possible effects of the Social Security Act. The board, he said, had not been able to discover how the fund could be fitted into the framework of the national scheme or how its basis could at present be altered without disastrous results for many and without creating grave risk of disadvantages for all. Civil servants and others continued to contribute to the superannuation funds whilst paying the social security tax as did the ministers. The position was being . watched with the greatest care and the board was satisfied that it would be folly to change the basis of its fund until the position of the State fund was more assured. Increases Involved A recommendation had been made that ministers should be retired at 65 years, but the board could not approve of this, for a change could only be made by making substantial • increases jn the circuit levies and personal contributions to the funds. The question had been raised of whether status in the supernumeray fund could be purchased in respect of prior home missionary service. The board endorsed the opposition expressed to this proposal by a previous conference and after some discussion the conference decided to ask the board to report next year on the conditions under which such a proposal could be operated. The Rev. A. H. Cropp, formerly missionary in the Solomon Islands, was granted a transfer to the church of New South Wales. Tribute was paid to tire conspicuous services rendered by Mr. Cropp to the church during his 19 years’ connection with it. Tributes were paid to the following ministers who have now become supernumeraries: The Revs. G. Knowles Smith, R. Purcell Keall, Jonathan H. Haslam, George P. Hunt, Frank E. Headley, Arthur Liversedge, Adolphus W. Scotten, and Benjamin J. James.