DIOCESAN EXPENDITURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9463, 6 September 1889, Page 3

DIOCESAN EXPENDITURE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — ask your indulgence for some remarks, final on my part. I started by drawing attention to the probably excessive expense of the " office ;" my tentative statements may now be considered as correct. I was pleased to find that there are others who are giving attention to diocesan matters, and thank them for their support. But issues have been raised which are diverting attention from the most important point. The salary, &c, of the Home Mission secretary (or it is as well to say at once, of Mr. Haselden), have been attacked as if a matter at all comparable to the emoluments of the diocesan secretary. With all deference to tho opinions of some of your correspondents, I would say that frem all I have known of the matter, I think Mr. Haselden has given very full value for his salary, etc., and I think the managers may be able to show that the money has been well spent. j pointed out at first that his stipend and expenses were fairly and openly stated in the published accounts, whereas those of the general secretary required to be dug out of numerous separate accounts. The question of the terms on which the committee lend money may safely be left as a matter of business at current rates the committee ought to lend their funds safely, and, if any parishes choose to pay higher interest than they would be charged by other lenders, at any rate some church fund would get the benefit. I wish now to recall attention, and very serious and active attention, to the item of "office" expense ; which is, I may say, settled now as being quite twice as much as it need be. £300 is a liberal salary for a secretary and accountant fully competent to deal with the business of the trusts, even if he gave up his whole time to the office. This is an assertion easily tested by an advertisement or two ; and £50 or so is ample for office accommodation. On the published figures it is evident) tohat fully £400 a year are— will not say thrown away, since that sum goes to enrich a most agreeable, highly respectable, and well-to-do citizen ; but excellent as such a use of money may be. I think such a sum is better applied to the trust purposes, for which the various institutions and funds dealt with were established. Our Bishop is of too kindly a nature to reduce anybody's salary. lam sure he would sooner raise us all round. The personal friends of the present incumbent of the office would:■ justly feel repugnance to proposing so serious a reduction as is imperatively called for. Therefore, in this delicate state of affairs let the outer business laity, or even clergy, not under any personal influence, take up the matter and demand that the "office" be put under such arrangements as are sufficient for the purpose ; and, at the next Synod, if not before, insist on the needful reform. The present secretary should at once be reduced to £300 salary, including all work incident, and £50 or so for office rent, or he should make way for some competent person to take up the work at that price.—l am, etc., Auckland, September 5. Churchman*.