MINISTERS AND MOTORS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LV, Issue 4573, 16 November 1935, Page 1

MINISTERS AND MOTORS.

“WAY OF THE VtfORLD.”

Figures q noted by the treasurer, Mr. V; G. Chapman, at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand in Wellington, showed the extent to which the motor-car is used nowadays in church work. Congregations in 1920, said Mr Chapman, spent £2997 for ministers’ transport expenses; in 1925, £6758; in 1930, £11,215; and in 1935, £11,478. These expenses were for running costs and were quite apart from the capital cost of the cars. If the capital cost of the cars which were supplied by the congregations was also taken into account, the total amount would be staggering. Mr. Chapman also referred pointedly to the total property debt of congregations. In 1920, he said, it was £108,190; five years later £147,000; five years after that £201,000; and this year £223,900. The debt per member in the years quoted was respectively £2 11s fid, £3 Is 9d, £3 17s 7d, and £4 2s Id. Taking the interest rate at 5 per cent., congregations had to find £5405 for interest in 1920, £7355 in 1925, £10,075 in 1930, and £ll,195 in 1935. ; “I am afraid the Church has gone the way of the world so far as borrowing and the use of .motorcars are concerned,” said Mr. Chapman.