METHODIST CONGRESS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 11451, 27 February 1931, Page 5

METHODIST CONGRESS

WORK ON MISSIONS FIELD

APPEAL FOR. FURTHER FUNDS

(Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Feb. 26. At the Methodist Conference the report of the Womens’ Missionary Union stated that the membership was now 2940, an increase of more th’aD 100 members- The year had commenced with 43 auxiliaries and had closed with 4S. The income for the year was £2,590, an increase of. £7O over last year. The Union was now turning its attention to the advancement of work amongst Maori girls and it was hoped to establish a training home on a small scale in Auckland.

The report of the Children’s Fund showed that the expenditure was £75 13s Id more than the income, -and the committee was of opinion that a levy of 71- per cent would be sufficient for the ensuing year. The financial statement of the Foreign Missionary Society for 1930 disclosed an income of £15.249, and an expenditure of £21.414, leaving a debit balance of £6,614. The Board of Foreign Missions estimated that the income for 1931 would be £14.500 and that the expenditure would be £20,500.

On the motion of the Rev. W- Sinclair. general secretary of the board, it was decided that the £14,000 be regarded as the extreme limit of expenditure on the mission field and that the chairman be asked if he can bring the expenditure within that amount and, if this is not possible, that lie he requested to indicate what steps must be taken to reduce the expenditure to the amount of £14,000: that an S.O.S. appeal be sent out to provide special help or a general fund of £SOOO. sufficient to cover the difference between the estimated ordinary income and expenditure of this year amounting to £2OOO, to prevent the withdrawal of workers from the field and also to assist on placing the mission in a more satisfactory financial position; that contributions to S.O.Sfund extend over a period of three years and if so desired, that tho financial position be reviewed at the end of July and, if the result of the S.O.S. appeal be not then regarded as sufficiently satisfactory, certain workers bo withdrawn from the mission field. AVith reference to the future medical policy in the Islands, the Board recommend (1) Dr. Savers’ return to the mission field for it further term of service. (2) That the future medical policy of the mission be not definitely determined until the result of the S.O.S. appeal be known. (3) That the board is of the opinion that there should he only one base hospital in the mission district, located at Bilau, or other suitable central place. It is not suggested that one doctor is to be withdrawn.

On tlie recommendation, of tha board it ivas decided that the Koviana circuit be divided and that the portion of the present circuit situated in tho British Solomons be constituted a circuit to bo named The Koviana cu-cuit; that portion of the present circuit situated iu the Mandated territory of New Guinea be constituted a circuit and named the Bougainville and Buka circuit and that the Kev. J. It. Metcalfe he appointed superintendent of the Bourgainvillo and Buka circuit. • It was further decided that the hoard take into full consideration at the earliest possible date the future of the Bauga plantation and that the chairman of the Mission district be communicated with concerning the possibility of reducing considerably the working expenses of the plantation until the price <1 copra increases and that the working expenses on . other plantations bo reduced to a minimum. A deputation from the League of Nations Union, which was introduced by tho Eev. H .E. Bellhouse, waited on the conference and appealed to members to use their influence to further the aims of the union -and acquaint their people with its ideals. The Kev. C. Eaton, who replied on behalf of the conference, assured the deputation of the whole-hearted sup. port ,of the conference and-stated that he trusted to see the unification of manhood at no 'distant daifce.'