WAIKATO DIOCESE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20300, 6 July 1929, Page 16

WAIKATO DIOCESE.

FINANCE FROM PARISHES.

NEW ASSESSMENT SCHEME.

MAORI LAITY ON SYNOD. [BY TELKOIUrn.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON. Friday. Tho Waikato Dioct-san Synod resumed its sessions to-day, Bishop Cherrington presiding. The llev. R. L. Connolly, chairman of tho Statistics Committee, advised that thoro had been a decided improvement in tho returns sont in by tho different parishes. There were, however, one or two points upon which comment was necessary. Eight parishes had failed to show the amount of their insurances. Five parishes had shown that they had no communicants on tho roll. It was interesting to' notice tho irregularity among the communicants. The figures showed that tho average number of receptions varied from 3 per cent, to 14 per cent, in different parishes. Archdeacon E. M. Cowie (Hamilton) moved • " That it bo a recommendation to synod that parishes should be assessed for diocesan finance on tho same basis as they aro now assessed for missionary contributions, parishes to bo assessed through the archdeaconry and rural deanery boards." The motion led to a lengthy debate, some speakers objecting to tho suggestion of assessing the parishes and to the suggestion that special ofTortorics ho abolished.

Bishop Cherrington said it was proposed to do away with the prosent system. Tho idea of the mover was to entrust tho rural deanery boards with the work of equitably distributing the liability for diocesan finance among the parishioners. Several amendments were proposed and finally tho following was adopted: "That it bo a recommendation to Standing Com mittee that the amounts required by tho diocese from parishes bo allocated to tho difforent archdeaconries and rural deanory boards, who shall advise Standing Committee as to tho proportion payable by each parish within its jurisdiction." The Rev. H. E. Jones (Frankton) moved. "That synod recommend that all halls or buildings which are used for Sunday School purposes shall not bo used for seculai purposes on Saturday evenings." He said the idea was to ensure that the buildings would be clean and tidy for use for Sunday School on Sundays.

Tho motion was carried with ono or two dissentients.

The Rov. H. K. Pou (To Kuiti) moved a rosolution affirming the principle that the Maori laity should be represented on synod and that the Standing Committee be requested to frame the necessary qualifications for membership and tho method of election.

The bishop suggested that thero should be one lay repiebentative for each Maori pastorate. If there were more than 100 Maori communicants in a pastorate there should bo more than one Maori synodsman from that district.

The motion was carried unanimously. Canon E. S. Wayne, vicar of Waihi, intimated to : day that he had resigned his appointment as canon and chairman of the Waikato Diocesan Missionary Committee. Mr. Wayne will retain his appointment as vicar of Waihi.

Mr. T. C. Fookes (New Plymouth) moved that the attention of the Standing Committee be directed to tlio impropriety and danger of the payment into its overdrawn banking; account at the Bank of New Zealand of the several sums of money raised in the diocese for special objects as shown in the statement of the Standing Committee's liabilities in its ba'anee-sheet as at March 31, 1929.

The motion was carried. Archdeacon Cowie moved, and Mr. D. Hay seconded, a motion "That this synod desires to place on record its high appreciation of the valuable services of Miss Eva Necker, first headmistress of the Waikato Diocesan Girls' School, whose personality and devotion have contributed so largely to tho initial success of the school, and to express its very deep regret at her coming departure." It was explained that arrangements had been made for Miss Necker's sister to take charge of the school during her absence, The resolution was carried with applause.

Archdeacon Cowie withdrew his motion regarding the religious instruction of children, and said tho bishop was fully alive to tho need of something being done in tho direction indicated in tho motion..