DIOCESAN EXPENDITURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 5459, 2 September 1889, Page 3

DIOCESAN EXPENDITURE.

TO THK KDITOR. Sir,—The manner in which "Another Churchman' , has so entirely collapsed, and has allowed judgment to go against him by default in favour of "Churchman," "Yet; Another Churchman," is certainly very significant. Perhaps it has been decided that discretion is the better part of valour, and that ib would be wiser not to enter into particulars too much in detail, as some undesirable revelations might possibly be the result. This very reticence, however, is very damaging to the cause on behalf of which "Another Churchman" so rashly posed as a champion, for when his statements were categorically denied, and he was challenged to give explicit; answers to certain questions, he has remained sileni. It may therefore ho taken for granted that "Churchman's ,, assertion regarding the excessive salary given to the secretary of the Diocesan Board is quite true; also that my statements re St. George's vestry and the Diocesan Trusts Board (or the Standing Committee) were equally correct in every particular; and lastly, that the salary of the organising clergyman of the Anglican Home Mission does absorb the major part of the moneys annually collected in this diocese for Home Mission work. I saw it stated that* at the recent annual meeting of the Homo Mission in this city the organising; clergyman (Rev. J. Llaseldcn) .reported the income for the hist, year to be £140. As his own pay is £300 a year, either he got no pay at all last year— an exceedingly improbable thing —or he should have said that the total amount collected was £440, and that afbe; , deducting his salary, there remained foE the purposes of the mission only £140. That means, if I am correct, that he takes two-thirds of the whole money given by the various churches in the diocese for Home Mission work. When the next Home Mission collection is taken up, I hope that it will be announced, so that all may know for what purpose they are giving, that the first charge on the amount is tho salary of the organising 'clergyman, and that what remains is really for the Home Mission work.—l am, fee.,, Anglican , Churchman.