INADEQUATE STIPENDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume L, Issue 175, 25 October 1917, Page 3

INADEQUATE STIPENDS

COMPLAINTS BY ANGLICAN CLERGY. (United Press Association.? AUCKLAND, Oct. 24. Frank admissions as to the inadequacy of their stipends were made by several clergy in a debate in the Diocesan (Synod. One speaker said that during the past twelve months he had received £IOO from his flock and £25 from the diocese, but, considering that three new churches had just been opened in his district, and that there was keen competition on the part of other religious bodies, he could not press his people for more. y Another said that he was thankful in some ways that he was not married, for his stipend (£lso} could certainly not support a family. A third remarked that he was receiving £2OO a year from his parish, which was an endowed one. This sum was sufficient for himself and- his wife, because they had no family. He knew that he could get more from his people if he cared to ask for it, but he did not as his present income sufficed. He pointed out that a clergyman in the country had to keep one or two horses, to entertain a little, and to contribute to the pension fund, besides incurring other expenses from which a layman was free. One of the senior clergy said he was glad that he had. independent means, and was not compelled to live on the doles that he had received since he hid entered the ministry. If he had he would be in a most degrading state of poverty ,with no possibility of enjoying any of the pleasures of life. He thought that the present state of affairs was an absolute disgrace.