METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 70, 21 February 1931, Page 12

METHODIST CONFERENCE.

THE DUNEDIN GATHERING. EX-PRESIDENT PRAISED. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Eeb. 20. The Methodist Conference sitting in Dunedin was resumed this morning under the chairmanship of the president, Rev. E. D. Patcliett. At the instance of Rev. Mr Copeland (convener) the conference home mission committee was appointed a special committee to consider the situation of various churches and parsonages in Hawke’s Bay affected by the earthquake. The election by districts of lay representatives to the stationary committee of the conference resulted in the appointment of the following laymen: Auckland district, Messrs A. Peak and W. S. Mackay; South Auckland, Messrs J. A. Clothier and J. C. , Tietjens; Taranaki-Wanganui, Messrs J. T. Griffin and P. B. Spicer; Hawek’s BayManawatu, Messrs R. Thomas and W. B. Cameron; Wellington, Messrs S. T. Martin and T. H. Crosbie; Nelson, Messrs S. Gorman and C. Cre.sswell; North Canterbury, Messrs W. C. Francis and O. K. Wrigglesworth; South Canterbury, Messrs F. G. Marshall and F. Frampton; Otago-Southland, Messrs C. Cheat and I. Winton; Solomon Islands Mission district. Messrs D. C. Cameron ana S. G. Macfarlane (additional). The eminent services rendered to the church during his year of office by the ex-president, Rev. A. N. Scotter, _ were acknowledged with great cordiality in a resolution moved by the vice-president, Mr W. S. Mackay. The mover said the president had taken his office seriously and had been indefatigable in his labours for the inspiration and enheartenment of the Methodist'people of New Zealand. In supporting the resolution, the president, Mr Patcliett, said the expresident’s visits to the various parts of the Dominion had left a gracious improssion upon the minds and hearts of the people. Responding, the ex-president said his year of office had been an education, and he had found great joy. in his visits of encouragement to the Methodist people, especially in the lonely places of the Dominion. A tribute was also paid to the valuable work of the ex-vice-president (Mi A. Peak) during the past year. A cordial welcome to the conference was given to Sister Margaret Gibson, a Methodist deaconess from Edinburgh, now visiting New Zealand. The visitor briefly acknowledged the J welcome and conveyed greetings from | the deaconess order in the Old Coun-

try. f STAFFING OF CIRCUITS. Arising out of the' business of the committee on circuits, the following adjustment regarding status and 6taff. ing of circuits and home mission stations were agreed to: That in the present circumstances in the devastated Hawke’s Bay area, the appointment of second agent to the Napier circuit be deferred; that no second agent he appointed to Greymouth' for 1931; that Hawarden, North Canterbury, , continue as a circuit, with a probationer and a suitable grant; that in view of the problems of the Geraldine circuit the question of the status of this circuit be referred to the conference home mission committee with a request for adequate financial assistance; that in order to enable Wanganui North to maintain its probationer, the home mission fund make a suitable grant.. The following probationers were admitted into • full connection in the ministry.—Revs. B.' R. iHarnes, N. P. Larsen, G. I. Laurenson, A. R. Penn, A. W. E. Sylvester, H. V. Utting, A. H. Voyce. The following candidates for the ministry were received for theological training:—Messrs- Arthur P. Dorrian, George H. Goodman, John Hahn, Andrew J. Johnston, Howard p. Mat- . thews, Henry J. Tozer, all from the Auckland and South Auckland district. The conference granted the application of the ; following ministers to become permanent supernumeraries: Dr. C. H. Laws, Revs. A. C. Lawry, H. L. Blamires, G. S. Cook and j. Featherston. SUPERNUMERARY FUND. Rev. M. A. Rugby Pratt introduced the Supernumerary Fund Board business, and stated the fund showed an aggregate of £144,649 17s Bd, the income being £12,001 8s 4d.-- Allied funds administered by the board amounted to £14,802 11s Bd. A £ood deal of consideration had been given by the board to the scale of annuities, and certain i anomalies that required adjustment in the existing gradient of benefits, and ]

these matters had been the subject of correspondence with an actuary. While satisfied that the state of the fund at present would warrant an increase of benefits, yet owing to the present world-wide economic depression and uncertainty caused thereby the board deemed it wise at this juncture to defer proposals for such an increase in the annuity rates. The report was adopted. The conference approved of the setting apart of Rev. J. D. Groeott as organiser of the young men’s Bible class movement for a period of two years. The transfer of Rev. W. Beckett to Victoria and Tasmania was approved by the conference. The attention of the Unemployment Commissioner (Mr Malcolm Fraser) was called to the fact that 81 supernumerary ministers who were never likely to become claimant on the fund administered in the interests of the unemployed were compelled to pay the unemployment levy. Exemption had been asked for in these cases. The commissioner stated that the general question of exemptions was under consideration, and when a decision was reached publicity would be given to it through the Press.