THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 10 March 1909, Page 3

THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.

CONCLUSION OF THE SESSION. [United Piuss Association. J WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The Methodist Conference concluded its business to-"day. Some information regarding the finances of the Methodist Missionary Society of Australasia was given by the Rev. J. N. Buttle. The total income for 1908 was £29,492, aud the total expenditure for the -same period was £31,057, showing a deficiency of £1564. Included in income were h\u ppi-rial items,' viz., missionary advance aij'l relief fund, £1370; and n«n- nii.-.siun boats £3286. These amount*, together with the deficiency already mentioned, made a deficiency on working of £6193. Mission districts had ruiitrilji't'd £9373, a considerable advance on Iho prewoiio .oar. Thr SocielyV income had "r P ii provided as follow;,: New Smith Wall- £4060; Queensland £824 : Victoria £5130 ; Tasmania £207; South Australia £2532; West Australia £273; New Zealand £2161. The Rev. F. R. Dewsbury and Mr F. L. Prime (Auckland) were re-appointed Treasurers of the Home Mission Fund. A standard provision for married ~ome Missionaries was fixed at £120 per annum, with a furnished house. The report on the Children's Fund presented by the Rev. W. J. Williams, showed that although £391 was brought forward from the previous year the operations for 1908 closed with a deficit of £258. In order to remove the deficit in two years he proposed to increase the levy to 18 per cent. The fixing of the levy to meet the current year's requirements was left to the treasurers and the conference, the secretary to determine the deficiency to be worked out in three years. The levy was subsequently reported to bs 14 per cent. The Rev. H. R. Dewsbury's report upon the contingent fund showed that the income was £1292 during the year, being £116 in excess of the outgoings, which, in addition to £200 received from the children's fund and the credit balance of £71 brought forward, left a credit balance of £387. This would be required to prpvide for New Zealand's share of the next General Conference in Adelaide, 1910, and therefore it would be again necessary to fix the annual levy at 6£ per cent. The report was adopted. it was decided that the Southern Maori -xissioner Neho Hemi Papakura, be transferred fo the North Island.' On the Rev. H. Bull's motion the Chairmen of Districts were empowered to act as Chairmen of Educational and Connexional Trusts in their own districts. It was announced by the Rev. R. J. Serpell that no offer had been received from any New Zealand minister who was willing to exchange with the Rev. Charles Tregear, of Melbourne, who was desired for the control of the New Zealand"Methodi6t Central Mission at Wellington. He suggested that if the matter was left open for a while there possibly would be an offer. Meanwhile preparatory work for the reception ol such a missioner would be carried on. Ths following were appointed a committee to negotiate during the year the affairs of the Mission : Superintendents of Wellingon (Taranaki-street.), ThomSon, and Wellington South Cir- { cuits; Messrs G. Tiller, W. E. Bedstone, C. H. Jones, W. Dimmock, J. Lomas, .E. W. Waterhouse, E. Tonks, H. N. Holmes, H. Hart, J. Keall, L. J. Clark, and E. Christie, with power to -add to their number. The Rev. E. P. Blamires announced that the Herbert-street Mission congregation had confirmed the resolution of amalgamation by an increased majority of 75 votes to 6.