DIOCESAN EXPENDITURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9445, 16 August 1889, Page 3

DIOCESAN EXPENDITURE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I could wish that " Another Churchman," instead of merely telling "Anglican Churchman" to be ashamed, of himself, had made a satisfactory reply to my letter. There is one crumb of information, though. He says the Diocesan Secretary does not get a salary of £600. Why nob say what the salary really is ? The omission makes matters look worse, and raises a suspicion that thab gentleman's emoluments are to be kepb a secret-from the laity. Let us go to figures again : I have taken particulars of sixteen funds-of which separate accounts are published in the Church Gazette, the gross income being £9927, and the charges for " office" £BM. " Office" evidently means secretary, reofc, stationery, receipt books, and postages. In nine of them printing is charged extra,.and in three advertising is extra, so that "office" does not include reports like. One observes thab in the fund for. widows, those ladies get £159 ss, and the "office" £32 14s 2d. From emergency fund, the clergy affected get £55, andthe " office" £16 ss. Oat of £27 17s 6d cemetery fees received, the " office" gets £16 ss. From the Home Mission fund, which is openly charged with the organising secretary's salary, for which he gives hiswhola time, the "office" takes £40 for attending to the accounts necessary for £940 worth of income and expenditure. Now, if the-sec-retary does not get the £600 pointed out, who does ? Putting down rent, £100-; expenses for stationery, etc., £114, there still remains the £600 to be described. Whether he takes £800 (say) as a "salary," and the remainder for himself, his firm, or any other person, by way of commissions, it comes to the same thing : £600 appears to go in payment to some person or peraons. \Ve know of the real worker, the clerk at £150—what about the £450 ? My first position remains good till disproved by actual figures ; and that is, that twice as rnnch is paid for the service of attending to the Diocesan funds as there is any occasion for. £300 is a fair and liberal salary, and one which will command a choice among persons in every way eligible for the work and responsibility. For this, such a one would, I am sure, collect the income, make the payments, see to investments, keep proper account books, keep , minutes of meetings and conduct correspondence ; £50 or so will provide handsome and convenient offices, and £50 sufficient office expenses. On the face of the published accounts, and the silence following my challenge, I feel justified hi asserting that the waste of money which has evidently been going on for years shool/3 be stopped. I call upon those concerned to lot us know where the £814 went. This can easily be done. It is to be hoped that.ab the next Synod, if not before, somexndependent laymen, or bold clergymen, will have the matter thoroughly looked into ; and a sum of £400 per annum thus saved and added to the Church funds.—1 41m, &e,, Auckland, August 14. Churchman:

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —A correspondence lias been going merrily along for some time past in your columns between "Churchman," "Anglican Churchman," and "Another Churchman," upon the subject of diocesan extravagance. "Another Churchman" assumes semi-official airs, and rates the otlxer two soundly upon their presumption in asking unpleasant questions, assuming, probably, that their duty is simply to subscribe. His answer of this morning to these two profane scribblers is, however, so unsatisfactory as to raise unfounded suspicion that something is kept back, rather than to allay misapprehension. He tells them that the secretary's salary is nob £600 a year, that the Standing Committee do not lend to struggling churches at seven per cent, when others lend at six, and that the Home Mission is not so mismanaged that the organising clergyman's stipend engulphs more than half the sum meant to be expended in grants in aid of the unfortunate struggling clergy and congregations, in outdistricts. As " Another Churchman"-would surely not write without knowledge, he would greatly relieve many church members if he would answer the questions raised in substance, by stating what are the salary and expenses incidental to the secretary's office, what are the income of the Home Mission, and the stipend of the organising clergyman, and at what rate of interest does the Standing Committee lend money to the churches, or church members, for ecclesiastical purposes. On behalf of the Pension and Home Mission Funds I would strongly urge that an answer be given, not simply to satisfy these inquisitive churchmen, but the great mass of contributors, whose attitude must undoubtedly be determined by the result of the controversy.—l am, &c, Ykt Another Churchman.